Strike of the Gods
Wuoooong!
With Bahamed's words, emerald light erupted from both of his front legs.
"Ah."
Just staring at that light drew an involuntary gasp of admiration from me. It felt like every cell in my body was cheering in ecstatic joy. I couldn't tear my eyes away, mesmerized by Bahamed's front legs.
Then, curling the corners of his mouth into a grin, Bahamed spoke.
Behold it well!
Paaaat!
With his shout, the emerald radiance that had begun from his front legs enveloped the surrounding space.
The light was so blinding that I had to close my eyes for a moment before opening them again. The subconscious space I'd been in vanished, replaced by a scene I'd never witnessed before.
'This place...'
A rocky plain. A scorching sun. And standing alone beneath that blazing heat—Bahamed, in the primalized form I'd seen once before.
I realized naturally that I was peering into Bahamed's memories again.
Dududududu.
"Karararara—."
"Kiriririri!"
A massive vibration rumbled through the ground, accompanied by the roars of primal species. Looking ahead, I saw a black wave surging toward Bahamed like a tsunami.
There had to be tens of thousands of centipede primal species in that horde. I shuddered involuntarily.
And that wasn't all.
Fwooooosh!
A ferocious gust of wind assaulted my ears, strong enough to deafen. Tilting my head up to the sky, I saw the blazing sun not just obscured by another black wave, but the heavens themselves swallowed by it.
'Hornet primal species?'
The culprits were primal species resembling ancient hornets, their numbers matching the centipedes at tens of thousands. Combined, they formed an army of over a hundred thousand.
Even for me, at the pinnacle of Ultimate Body, facing that many at once would be impossible. Even during continental wars, battles of that scale were rare.
'He's not dodging...'
The two armies closed in, but Bahamed didn't budge. Anxiety flickered in my eyes. No way. Was he planning to take them on alone? It was utter madness by any logical measure, but somehow, I sensed he was preparing for battle.
Swoosh.
Then, he turned his head and looked right at me.
'He sees me. Is it coincidence?'
I was in spirit form, after all.
"Focus."
"...!"
As if confirming he was aware of me, he spoke slowly. Facing that massive army with such overflowing composure...
"Wind and Thunder God!"
He thrust both hands forward.
Huaaaang—.
Pajijijijit—.
From his left hand swirled a storm that could tear anything apart. From his right, lightning crackled wildly in all directions.
The form was similar to mine, but the scale was on another level—far beyond what I could achieve even at full power with wind essence and thunder essence.
Then, the two ether attributes accelerated, taking definite shapes.
'Trait manifestation.'
It was the manifestation of traits available upon reaching Complete Body.
Weapons formed in Bahamed's hands.
'Twin swords!'
I widened my eyes. He'd manifested both front legs as weapons.
So that's possible!
The weapons Bahamed summoned were a pure white sword and a deep blue one, befitting their names: Wind God and Thunder God.
These swords, called the Wind and Thunder Gods, were clearly on a higher plane than the Wind White Sword I'd grown in my previous life.
If the wind power of my Wind White Sword could ravage a city like a typhoon, the aura from that Wind God felt like it could shake the entire Abian Continent.
'I want it...'
Greed made me swallow hard. And suddenly, those impossible armies didn't seem so daunting.
"Behold the full might inherited from the Wind and Thunder Gods."
As if to prove it, Bahamed began swinging the two swords in sequence.
"This is the Wind God."
A light swing of the pure white sword. No techniques or forms—just the raw power of the Wind God sword unleashed.
The result?
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!
A typhoon that shook heaven and earth swept through the tens of thousands of centipedes, as if the true Wind God had descended.
"Ki, kiriririt!"
"Kiririk—."
"Kiririririt!"
How could they defy nature's fury? The centipede legion could only succumb powerlessly to the sudden calamity. Mournful screams echoed everywhere, and a third of their forces were shredded and flung away in a single stroke.
'My god.'
I gaped at the unprecedented sight. If this battle were broadcast across the continent, everyone in Abian would revere Bahamed as a god.
He embodied the Wind God itself.
"How's that? Next, the Thunder God."
Bahamed continued in a languid tone.
Rumble!
Pajik, pajijijijijijijit!
Thunder roared from the deep blue blade in his right hand. The concentrated lightning ether altered the air currents themselves.
'Ugh.'
Even in spirit form, the glare stung my eyes, forcing a grimace. My body twitched from the numbing thunder aura prickling my entire being.
"The Thunder God Sword is a monster even greater than the Wind God Sword in pure destructive power."
Swoosh—.
Another light swing. But the result was anything but light.
Kurururururung!
The world flashed blue for an instant in an explosion of light. Despite originating from his right hand, lightning bolts expanded across the heavens, erasing the hornet legion that had blackened the sky like wiping a blackboard.
Kwajijijijijijijit!
Pasasasasak.
"Ka, kararararat!"
"Karararak—."
"Kararara."
Those struck directly by the divine power disintegrated without a sound. The lucky(?) ones caught in the aftermath screamed their death throes. Half the hornet legion vanished, as if the sky had been cleaved in two.
Holes appeared in the remaining half, and then—
Thud, kukukukukukung!
The aftershocks felled them, booming crashes resounding.
'Holy...'
Words failed me. The Wind God was impressive, but the Thunder God inspired outright dread. Just two strikes: the sky halved, the earth split.
And in that moment—
Doong—.
With over half the primal horde annihilated, the air currents reversed.
"Now the real show begins."
With Bahamed's enigmatic words, the true sky began to tear open.
Creeeeak—.
A sound like ripping paper echoed as space split. Then, a colossal eye emerged.
'......'
I wasn't even present in this time, yet that eye's pressure choked my breath, freezing my body.
'An... administrator?'
I couldn't be sure, but it wielded power akin to the administrator I'd vaguely sensed in my previous life—too vast for direct descent.
Even partially manifested, it exuded godlike pressure.
"Kiririririt— kiririt!"
"Karararat!"
"Kararara!"
All primal species dropped to the ground, prostrating toward the sky in worship.
'A religion...'
Chills ran down my neck at the scene. Different species reacting in unison like that was unprecedented.
Saaaaah.
Suddenly, ominous, sticky dark-red auras emanated from the primal species. A disaster loomed if left unchecked.
"Remember this."
Bahamed spoke to me while staring at the giant eye.
"The moment you awaken true power, no enemy will daunt you."
With that, he thrust both Wind and Thunder Gods forward.
Wuooooong.
The swords resonated wildly, erupting white and blue light.
Paaaaat!
The two beams merged, and the swords floated, drawn together like magnets.
Paaaaat!
The fused light turned golden, birthing a single sword from the brilliant glow—a golden blade blending Wind and Thunder Gods.
Bahamed seized it without hesitation and shouted,
"This is the power you must awaken!"
Auspicious energy poured from the sword aimed at the giant eye.
Fwoong!
He swung the radiant golden blade.
Chaaaaaaaak!
The eye tore like paper, the golden trail beautiful yet cataclysmic. The godlike being, unable to resist, was bisected.
—Kraaaaaaaa!
It screamed in agony for the first time, shaking the heavens.
—Bahamed... you bastard...!
With a furious wail, the sky sealed shut—a pathetic retreat compared to its entrance.
"Ka, kararat?"
"Kiririk."
The confused primal species scattered in terror.
'Ah...'
I trembled, still gripped by awe at Bahamed's display. Especially that final strike—replaying it sparked fireworks in my mind.
You have witnessed the Strike of the Gods.
Your Potential (SSS) trembles in excitement.
The bud of inspiration grows greatly.
As uncontrollable euphoria overtook me,
"Did you see it well?"
Bahamed turned to me and spoke.
"Remember this. That power you just witnessed is not the end. Thus, if you reach even its tail, no foe will stand against you—not even a god!"
His expression grave, I had no choice but to press on after seeing the path ahead.
Trembling with excitement, I replied,
'Watch me. I'll master that power beyond your expectations and make it my own.'
"Excellent, that spirit. It pleases me."
Our conversation ended, and my vision spun.
Spiiiin.
The world whirled; I closed my eyes. Opening them, I was back in the subconscious space.
How was it?
"Incredible."
You have far to go. This is just the beginning—refine yourself ceaselessly. And surely surpass me...
He trailed off, but I knew what he meant.
"I'll surpass you."
Nodding, I continued. He smiled.
It pleases me.
Then, extending both hands toward me—
Wuooooong!
Two emerald lights flew into me. Instinctively, I reached out, absorbing them into each hand.
"Ah!"
Bliss exploded from my mouth. A sensation like lying on clouds—
Paaaaaaa!
Emerald light burst blindingly from both arms.