At that time.
The followers of the Serpent Holder were greatly flustered by the scene before their eyes.
It was not for any other reason.
"Alright, repeat after me with your heads pressed down. I am."
[... I, I am!]
"To Lord Igeon."
[To, to Lord Igeon...!]
"A mortal sin."
[A mortal sin!!]
"I have committed."
[I have committed!!!]
"You bastards, your voices are too low! And who told you to smack your own butt!!"
[We, we're sorry!!]
"Again!!"
The gods who had come to subjugate Igeon were now prostrating themselves with their hands behind their backs, heads pressed to the ground.
And at that sight, the follower gods could only break out in a cold sweat.
'The high-ranking star gods of the renowned Hall of All Gods... are pressing their heads to the ground...'
The Hall of All Gods was the most competitive and renowned among the dwellings of gods.
And yet the upper-level star gods who rule the Hall of All Gods... are being kicked around by Igeon in such a humiliating manner.
Because of this, the gods were brimming with dissatisfaction, but perhaps they dared not even mention the word 'subjugation' in front of the Primordial God.
[We apologize!! We will forget the subjugation ever happened, so please just let us return to the divine realm... ugh!]
"Can't you even press your heads down properly?!"
[...Urgh!]
The star gods pressed their heads down as if to say 'just you wait.'
'If only the Primordial God would disappear...!' 'There'd be nothing to worry about...!'
And there was one person looking on with disgust at this scene.
"I chased out the evil gods, and then what is that now...?"
It was Hyugo.
And as he felt extremely awkward around the Primordial God, the follower gods of Scorpio giggled mockingly.
[What, why are you acting like that all of a sudden.]
[Perhaps you're remembering the time you entered the Primordial God's bedchamber... agh!!]
Hyugo crushed the monstrous Scorpio follower gods with a cold gaze.
At the same time, he recalled memories of the past.
It was a memory from the very distant past.
- Oh my, is this the famous one who turned the divine realm upside down this time?
- Yeah, this bastard is the one. The insolent scoundrel who dared enter the Primordial God's bedchamber. We barely caught him just now as he was trying to seduce and devour a god.
- Huh. To dare sneak into the Primordial God's quarters, you've got guts.
- Anyway, we Creators, who are under the direct command of the Primordial God, have been put in charge of this one's custody. For now, we'll let him loose among our group and we'll be his keepers.
- Not lock him in prison?
- His abilities were too strong; no prison could hold him. That's why he was handed over to us Creators.
- Good heavens, not even the direct troops could handle him? Amazing. Is he a god?
- No, he's a predatory monster born from trash.
The Creators had created a sealing technique, and as a result, his soul was bound by them.
Whenever he tried to use his power or escape, the Creators would immediately neutralize him.
Thus, as keeper and criminal, he came to live with the Creators.
And then the father of Asran, who was the leader of the Creators at that time, asked.
- Hmm, Manbyeon. I'll ask honestly. Why did you go into the Primordial God's quarters?
- Because she was a peerless beauty? To devour her?
- ...What, you bastard?! Surely you didn't actually do the deed!
- Well, she definitely killed.
- What?!!
- Her fists.
- ......
He stayed with the Creators for quite a long time.
Well, that ended right after he learned their weaknesses.
- Due to Manbyeon's treachery, the Primordial God lost her power!
- Manbyeon killed the Creators and escaped!! Capture him!
- That bastard, he deceived the Creator followers and fled to break his own seal!
Hyugo clicked his tongue as he recalled those events.
In the end, he had killed the Creator clan he had been with, turned even the Scorpio star god into a monster, and it was a rather unpleasant old memory for Hyugo.
In any case, the Primordial God would have no choice but to hate him as well.
'But why is that here...'
Sure enough, the four evil gods were greatly enraged by Hyugo's appearance.
[Who is this? Isn't it Manbyeon?]
At those words, the Cheon siblings tilted their heads.
'Manbyeon?'
Just as they were wondering what that meant, the gods who heard the evil gods' words went into convulsions.
[Huh! We did hear rumors that Manbyeon was by the Serpent God's side, but could that really be...!]
Those who were pressing their heads down shuddered and looked at Hyugo.
[Do you know that the divine realm began to decline because of you!]
[If it weren't for you, the Primordial God wouldn't have become like that!]
[How much the Great Star Gods have suffered...!!]
They cursed as if asking whether he couldn't forget his rotten nature even after becoming human.
[Having devoured that many gods, he should be staying quiet.]
[Are you planning to betray and hunt the Creators who sided with you again this time?]
"Shut up."
[!]
Hyugo's eyebrows rose fiercely.
"If you all wish, I'll wipe you out just the same."
No sooner had he spoken than a vicious energy pressed down on the gods.
Boom!
And although it imitated the magical power of the Serpent Holder, that power was unmistakably that of a formidable monarch!
At that killing intent, the gods ground their teeth.
'This bastard! As expected, he's awakening as a monarch...!'
'He's dangerous...!!'
And right then.
Perhaps because Hyugo's fiercely emanating power grated on it.
Bam!!
[The Scorpio star god rages and draws upon the power of the sanctuary.]
[It suppresses Hyugo's power.]
Maybe because it was inside the sanctuary, as Hyugo's power was suppressed, he grew annoyed.
"Even a so-called Creator... wants to die."
At that sight, the gods were horrified and looked at Igeon.
[Ser, Serpent God! He's going berserk!]
[If we don't stop him quickly!]
But the gods were stamped by Igeon's foot and fell.
"Bastards, did I tell you to press your heads down properly or not?"
[No, look here!! Is that really the important thing right now...]
"I told you to press them! Do my words sound like beggar's rags?! You beggarly bastards!!"
[Gaaack!!]
Crack!!! Crack! Crack!
Eventually, after pressing all the gods' heads into the ground, Igeon clicked his tongue and dusted off his leg.
Hyugo, as if afraid of being beaten by Igeon, trembled and voluntarily hid his power.
"Well, that's taken care of for now."
"!"
Igeon looked at the evil gods with dissatisfaction.
"Anyway, you guys are fallen bastards, right?"
Then the four evil gods felt greatly wronged.
[Fallen!]
"Why? It's true. The ones who assassinated the Primordial God."
[It was the Great Star Gods who made her that way!!]
"What?"
[Wh, what?!]
The gods with their heads pressed down raised their voices as if they absolutely could not stay quiet this time.
[Don't spout nonsense!! Serpent God! Don't listen!! Those words are bullsh*t!!]
[The evil gods are trying to trick you to sell you out!]
"!"
They spoke in unison.
[No matter how much we dislike you, we're telling you this because it's not right, even as fellow colleagues!]
[Yes! When gods fall, it's immediately obvious. That hideous appearance doesn't just come from nothing!]
[Whatever their purpose, they are trying to deceive you! That appearance of being unable to overcome their own karma is proof!]
At those words, the evil gods cried out as if coughing up blood.
[This karma is not ours, but the Great Star Gods'!!]
"......!!"
They swallowed their breath and said.
[Do you understand? The Great Star Gods passed their own karma onto us!]
Then the gods, who had been greatly flustered, raised their voices.
[You madmen! How could that be possible!]
[See, they are trying to swindle us with absurd false accusations!]
[Serpent God! You mustn't believe them... couggh!!]
The gods were once again beaten by Igeon.
"I told you to press your heads down properly."
[No... we were just trying to... for your sake...]
The gods felt wronged.
"Whatever."
Igeon looked at the giant as if there was something more important than that.
"First of all, if you're next to me, I can't use my power. So first, lift that restriction. There's a way, right?"
Then the evil gods looked at him as if troubled.
[That can be done by simply canceling the follower contract, but...]
"But?"
[The Primordial God is no longer in a normal state.]
[She is practically a dead corpse, with only obsession remaining.]
[In short, even if we asked her to release the follower contract, she wouldn't understand.]
It meant they couldn't grant what Igeon wanted.
Moreover, although her power was strong, her intelligence was gone.
But unexpectedly, Igeon laughed.
"If that's the case, there's a good way."
[What?]
"The Primordial God's condition can be healed, all the karma she received can be made to disappear. On top of that, even the restrictions on me can all be reduced to zero at once."
[...Are you trying to revive her with the power of life or time?]
[No. That would be impossible.]
[Yes. The Primordial God's status is too high for you to handle...]
"No, there's no need for that. It's much simpler."
[...What is it?]
"Succession."
At those words, silence fell for a moment.
[...What, you bastard?!!]
"That bastard commits suicide, dies, and is reborn, then it's solved, right? And after that, if she becomes my follower god, it's resolved. How about it, do you agree?"
[#*$&*#!?]
This crazy descendant?!!
The evil gods looked at Igeon as if he were insane.
[Do you even realize what you're saying?!]
[Die! And moreover, become a follower god!]
[What kind of bastard was born as a descendant?!]
They spoke as if that was absolutely unacceptable.
[The Primordial God is the one whose very existence allows dimensions to exist! Even touching her causes great calamity. No, from the start, do you think we'd ever...]
But at that moment.
[Very well.]
[...Master?!]
At the unexpected answer, the evil gods couldn't believe their ears.
But.
[I will be succeeded and become your follower god.]
"What?!... How?!!"
"In a way you'll like."
No, wait a moment!!
* * *
[So... you're saying you're going to make the Primordial God reincarnate?]
"Yes... that is so."
The gods who heard Igeon's news were at a loss for words.
The Valhalla Great Star God, standing with his hands behind his back, let out a hollow laugh.
[Of all the crazy things I've heard, this takes the cake.]
"But, Tongcheonju, if the Serpent God really gains the power of the Primordial God..."
[You think that's possible?]
"!"
[Even if momentary, the extinction of the Primordial God means the extinction of the entire universe. In the first place, those around her won't stay still.]
"That's right. It's a power that could kill not only the gods of all dimensions, but also myself, and even the inhabitants of my colonies. This is basically asking everyone to die together. It's self-destruction."
"I definitely won't mess with it. Even touching it is troublesome."
Thus, they weren't worried about that side.
Rather, in the current situation, what angered the Great Star God the most was the existence of Manbyeon.
The reason they had failed to notice the Primordial God's existence was none other than Manbyeon.
Moreover, I hear he's now even threatening the gods alongside the Serpent God.
[Therefore, it is you who must take responsibility for all of this.]
"......!"
In front of the Great Star God, the master of the Scorching Heat Temple was tied to a pillar in a spread-eagle position. And around him, numerous gods lay dead.
Soon, the Great Star God looked at him with disgust.
[To think of choosing such a one as a saint.]
"...No..."
[Well, choosing him as a saint must be your karma as well.]
"......!"
[Anyway, don't worry about the Primordial God. Take responsibility and kill Manbyeon. And persuade the Serpent God and bring him here. Do you think I'd hand over the Primordial God to such a rascal?]
No, it's rather difficult.
[As for the Serpent God, since the Primordial God is attached to him, we'll have to hold off until we can take her back.]
But at the Great Star God's command, the master of the Scorching Heat Temple smiled crookedly.
The Valhalla Great Star God was one of the top two in the divine realm, and when he spoke, any god had to kneel and bow their head.
The Scorching Heat Temple, belonging to Olympus, was no exception.
Along with the Ennead Great Star God, he was the de facto ruler of the divine realm.
But a command? To persuade the Serpent God and kill Manbyeon?
"Heh, there's no way that Geoni would listen to you. He doesn't even listen to me."
[That doesn't matter. If you fail, you'll simply be executed.]
"......!"
[In any case, from the moment you let the Serpent God into the divine realm and made the Kunlun Great Star God that way, you could not escape execution.]
The master of the Scorching Heat Temple sweated.
[However, if you handle Manbyeon and bring the Serpent God, I will pardon your sins.]
"You're asking me to deal with the Serpent God who has joined hands with the Primordial God, and Manbyeon on top of that? Just kill me then."
[If the Primordial God stays by the Creators, it's actually an advantage. She won't be able to use her power.]
"......"
[I will give you power. And in any case, that fellow can't use his power next to the Primordial God. Moreover, possessing the Primordial God is even more unthinkable. Something like succession, the evil gods beside her would never allow it.]
The Primordial God herself has lived obstinately for a long time; would she suddenly want to die now?
[So don't worry about that and go.]
The one-eyed being gestured confidently.
Then, a crow tattoo appeared on the neck of the master of the Scorching Heat Temple.
(Continued in the next episode)