The Divine Realm was now in chaos.
It was because word had spread that the Primordial God had appeared before Igeon.
“The one you’ve been searching for was with the Evil Gods!”
“We didn’t even know if he was alive all this time, and now you’re telling me he went to the Snake God of all people?”
“That’s impossible, that person…!”
“Great Star Gods! What in the world is going on!”
It had been the Primordial God whom all gods looked up to. Yet the Primordial God had been annihilated through Odin’s schemes and the betrayal of his close followers.
“Was it not the Great Star Gods of that time who arrested the Evil Gods for assassinating the Primordial God?”
“But does it make sense for the victim to be seen with the perpetrators?”
“For someone of the Primordial God’s stature to go to the Snake God—who is going to take responsibility for this!”
The gods had all swarmed to the central region.
Naturally, the Eight Great Powers were there, along with thousands of factions outside them and all who were connected to them.
Now that the Primordial God had shown himself before Igeon, new doubts had arisen instead.
“Come out and explain yourselves!”
“They are saying that the Great Star Gods murdered the Primordial God and framed the Evil Gods for it!”
At the same time, a light shot up before them.
A fierce violet wind scattered along with the light, and a man appeared. The gods of Valhalla were startled by the sight.
“My Lord!”
It was an old man wearing an eyepatch on one side.
And if the Ennead’s Great Star God was a young male god who felt like an arrogant fighting maniac, the Great Star God of Valhalla had the lofty air of a grand aristocrat.
As soon as the Valhallan Great Star God appeared in person, the gods immediately bowed their heads.
Whatever anyone might say, the Great Star Gods were the current pinnacle of the Divine Realm and the rulers of the dimensions, standing in place of the Primordial God as the highest leaders.
And what could be the reason for such a great being to reveal himself personally?
Sure enough.
[Did I just hear someone say that we assassinated the Primordial God and pinned the sin on the Evil Gods?]
“……!!”
At that single sentence, half of them trembled in terror, while the other half raised their brows, hiding their bewilderment.
“Then are you saying the Primordial God went mad and is staying with the Evil Gods?”
“And besides, it’s already suspicious that the Primordial God went to that Snake God instead of you. If you are not the culprits…!”
At that, Odin’s eyes flashed.
[Silence. If we had killed the Primordial God, then we would have been the ones to turn into Evil Gods.]
“!”
[The corruption of gods cannot be hidden by anyone. As proof, are we not perfectly fine?]
“…That’s…!”
[If you wish to claim we are the culprits, then tell me. Why have we not been burdened with such karmic retribution?]
The gods fell silent.
At this, the Valhallan Great Star God frowned.
‘There is no chance we will be found out.’
There was no way anyone could know.
And Garan, who was the only one who currently knew the method, was fated to be dealt with by Jagyeolsa Juin in short order.
Of course, he had planted a temporary divinity in him, but the opponent was that. No matter how long it dragged on, he would already be torn apart and devoured.
‘There will be no one left to know.’
But it was right at that moment.
“Hey! Wait! I said no! Hey! Stop!”
“You are to be executed. Execution!”
[!]
Tongcheonju flinched at the unexpected voice.
And that was because of the owners of those voices.
“No! I’m being wronged here!”
“Come along.”
Being dragged along by young servants was none other than Jagyeolsa Juin. And the gods who saw those servants and the blond man began to stir.
“Isn’t that Jagyeolsa Juin!”
“And those raven gods are…!”
The two children dragging Jagyeolsa Juin along were Tongcheonju’s eyes—the raven gods.
They were Hugin and Munin, divine beast gods who served as messenger-spirits.
The gods were in an uproar.
“I’ve never seen divine beast gods before…!”
“They all disappeared together when the Primordial God was murdered.”
And at Jagyeolsa Juin’s appearance, Tongcheonju swallowed his fury and raised his brows.
‘Why has that bastard come back here?’
He was supposed to be long dead, a corpse by now.
Sure enough, the glare Tongcheonju fixed upon the ravens was murderous.
[Oh?]
“It seems executing him with Jagyeolsa Juin is impossible.”
[What?]
“The Snake God used a Wish Granting Ticket. He permanently made Jagyeolsa Juin his subordinate and rendered it impossible for the two to fight at all.”
Tongcheonju very nearly swore out loud.
Fighting was what would have given it meaning!
Only then could they kill Jagyeolsa Juin, which was also Garan, and kill using the power of the divinity planted in Garan.
But the Snake God…!
[Did the Snake God send Jagyeolsa Juin along willingly?]
“Yes, he said he had no need for such a thing….”
By that point, Tongcheonju had realized Igeon’s true intentions.
‘So you deliberately left Jagyeolsa Juin to be dragged away.’
Hugin and Munin were Tongcheonju’s eyes.
No matter where in the world, it was clairvoyance that allowed him to see through the ravens’ eyes.
But now, that function was sealed because they were only monitoring Jagyeolsa Juin.
‘But sending him this way means he will die one hundred percent. Did he really send him because he had no need for him?’
It was then, as Tongcheonju’s gaze grew murderous.
“Our words are not yet finished!”
[!]
“Did you not say that the Evil Gods took the Primordial God’s powers? That they sold them to the Lords?”
It had been a total of five powers, including Samsara.
But the Great Star Gods had recovered those powers from the Lords.
And those powers became the symbol of the Primordial God, the catalyst for having the Great Star Gods recognized as the leaders of the Divine Realm.
“Then, by chance, was that also a lie?”
No sooner had the higher-ranked gods finished speaking than Tongcheonju’s eyes flashed murderously.
[Listening to this, it seems the dregs keep trying to climb up.]
“!!”
[You bastards who have enjoyed authority and lived in comfort thanks to us—you dare to pin a crime on the Great Star Gods, ignorant of that grace?]
Enraged, violet flames kindled from Tongcheonju’s body. At the same time, the size of his divine body grew. Then the colossal violet-flamed giant drew up his power.
Rumble!
Everyone was horrified at the menacing sight.
“Lord Tongcheonju!”
[I’ll bequeath brainless heads full of noodle dough to your offspring.]
It was unmistakable—he meant to slaughter Jagyeolsa Juin, the gods spewing nonsense, and everyone else on the spot.
And at last, just as those flames were about to fall upon the gods’ heads.
Bang!!!
“!!”
A powerful light knocked Tongcheonju’s power away.
And at the face that appeared, the gods, as well as the captive Jagyeolsa Juin, were shocked.
They couldn’t help it.
“A-Aseuran?!”
The one who had blown away Tongcheonju’s power was none other than Aseuran.
Jagyeolsa Juin stared at the blond man as if doubting his own eyes.
And meeting Jagyeolsa Juin’s gaze, Aseuran smiled brightly.
“You are still alive, older brother.”
Jagyeolsa Juin’s expression was extremely complicated.
“…Don’t tell me you came to rescue me…”
“Oh please, have I lost my mind?”
Aseuran laughed as if telling a barking dog to be quiet.
“Forget it, just be a weapon for our Igeon.”
At those words, Jagyeolsa Juin was crushed, and Aseuran glared at Tongcheonju.
The truth was, Jagyeolsa Juin had to recover his memories for them to know the method to defeat these opponents.
But regardless, Tongcheonju looked at Aseuran as if disgusted.
[The arch-traitor who mocked the Great Star Gods, Aseuran. So you were alive. What became of the Ennead’s Great Star God?]
“For the time being, he won’t be able to come out of the fiery hell. That old fossil should just roast his backside on a heated stone bed. His back might give out.”
At those words, the gods stirred.
“I thought Aseuran was close with the Great Star Gods? They were drinking buddies.”
“No. In the end, they fought like mad. They tried to kill each other.”
“Why??”
“Obviously it was Aseuran’s fault. The Creators are all insane sinners.”
At the same time, hearing the commotion, Tongcheonju’s expression became extremely troubled.
Because Aseuran knew.
He knew why they had eliminated the Primordial God’s existence and wanted to eliminate the Creators.
In fact, in the past, Aseuran had said this to them:
-I shall refuse a request like this.
-What?
-Now I understand why the Creators refused to become your subordinate gods after the Primordial God died.
-!
-And why you killed the Creators as well.
The Great Star Gods still vividly remembered Aseuran’s insolent refusal.
Because of that, Tongcheonju’s rage boiled over.
‘Is this the Snake God’s doing?’
Those Creators, who were of no help at all throughout his entire life.
Of course, that Aseuran had not been brought back to life.
Everything was visible to Tongcheonju’s eyes.
‘That is an item.’
But it was no ordinary item.
And not content with Jagyeolsa Juin, Igeon had even brought that damned Aseuran back.
In reality, Aseuran was Igeon’s item.
The more Igeon grew and became stronger, the more Aseuran could return to his original form and use his abilities.
In the end, at the sight, Tongcheonju immediately went on guard, while Jagyeolsa Juin seemed indifferent to it all.
As long as he was alive, that was all that mattered to him.
But it was right at that moment.
Pop!!
“!!”
Aseuran’s form had transformed into a slime.
At the sight, Jagyeolsa Juin’s face went pale, and all of Igeon’s retinue of gods who had come to observe the situation screamed.
“Aseuran!”
Aseuran thought, Oh no.
‘Oh no…!’
The duration had run out!
In the end, having reverted to a slime, Aseuran started fleeing with a squish-squish-squish. To top it off, he even stole some of the gods’ belongings along the way.
At the sight, Jagyeolsa Juin froze up, and Tongcheonju, unable to hold back any longer, erupted in fury.
[Immediately bring all gods related to the Star Gods of the 13 Palaces of the Zodiac.]
“…E-Excuse me?”
[The Star Gods of the 13 Palaces of the Zodiac pretended not to see the Evil Gods, pretended not to see a criminal like Jagyeolsa Juin, and did not stop the Snake Lord from running wild.]
“!”
[Therefore, by collective punishment, execute all gods of the 13 Palaces of the Zodiac and annihilate their very existence to disband that faction.]
The gods were thrown into a massive uproar.
Every one of the gods belonging to the 13 Palaces of the Zodiac were ruling gods of the Eight Great Powers.
And now they were saying to annihilate them!
But regardless, Tongcheonju looked at Jagyeolsa Juin and said:
[Take this bastard to Helheim, the Hell Prison of Valhalla.]
Helheim was Valhalla’s hell-prison. It was a place where subordinate gods taken from other factions, and criminals who harmed Valhalla, were imprisoned.
And when that place’s gate was opened, light erupted from the floor.
A space connected to Valhalla opened up.
It was a transportation passageway for sending prisoners.
Bound as he was, Jagyeolsa Juin flinched at the sight. The Hell Prison’s notoriety was infamous.
He had heard that all subordinate gods who refused to obey were locked away and tortured there to this day.
But it was at that moment.
[!]
The passageway connecting to Valhalla vanished in an instant. Even calling the warden there yielded no answer.
A suspicious Tongcheonju called upon his subordinate goddess, a Valkyrie, to check.
But then—
He soon heard shocking words.
“It’s an emergency! Valhalla is under attack!”
[What?]
“It’s the Snake God’s doing! The bastard is extracting prisoners from Valhalla!”
[……!?]
It was Igeon.
Igeon had gone so far as to invade Valhalla itself and was extracting the gods Tongcheonju had imprisoned.
And what was worse was which gods were being extracted.
[The majority are presumed to be gods who once belonged to the Snake Lord Constellation…!]
[It seems they deliberately drew Tongcheonju’s attention to Jagyeolsa Juin’s execution and then struck Valhalla!]
[It appears their goal is to recover their own subordinate gods and release criminals who are a threat to Valhalla!]
At the same time, having realized everything, Tongcheonju glared fiercely at Jagyeolsa Juin, who had been dragged there.
That little snake bastard…!
You deliberately sent this bastard to me just for this?
* * *
Meanwhile, around that time.
Having arrived at Valhalla’s hell, Hyugo looked at Igeon with unease.
“Hey. Are we really allowed to do this?”
“What, you bastard.”
“I’m telling you, this is hell.”
“So what, brat.”
“Then why the hell do I have to be your meat shield in hell!”
“Why else! Because it hurts if I get hit!!”
“#$*&*?!”
That was the situation.
They were now on the soil of Valhalla.
Of course, the reason they could come here in complete secrecy was one.
[As expected, Mimir. You know everything about Valhalla.]
It was thanks to the fairy king bound to Cheonseongjae, Mimir, who was also a former subordinate god of the Snake Lord Constellation.
On top of being originally from Valhalla, as the second-greatest god of knowledge in the Divine Realm, he knew everything from secret passages to methods of opening the prison.
That wasn’t all.
‘The Star Gods of the Twin Children Constellation’s divinity comes in handy at times like this…’
Igeon had already killed the Star Gods of the Twin Children Constellation on Earth and seized their divinity.
And the Star Gods of the Twin Children Constellation were Frey and Freya—former Star Gods of Valhalla.
Because of that, even if they ran into enemies in between, the enemies all reacted the same way.
-Damn, that’s the divinity of a Valhallan ruling god! Ugh!
-Damn it! I can’t attack! Keuh-huk!
As if unable to attack someone who was effectively their superior, the enemies cowered on their own.
Of course, there were higher-ranked gods upon whom even the ruling gods’ divinity didn’t work, but that didn’t matter either.
-Aaagh! The Primordial God!
-W-Wait! Why is that person here!
By just brandishing the Primordial God, more than half of them reacted the same way as Jagyeolsa Juin, and for the rest, he just threw Hyugo in to handle them.
And the reason Igeon did that was simple.
-There are many subordinate gods of the Snake Lord Constellation imprisoned here.
Mimir had said that with a sparkle in his eye.
-And the number of your subordinate gods is directly the power of a Star God. You must build up your faction and your power.
In short, to wield power on the level of a Great Star God, the prerequisite of internal strength had to be met.
‘First, you, my lord, must become a Great Star God yourself.’
And currently.
As Igeon opened the doors one by one, he pointed inside.
“Mm. So, is this one useful?”
Inside was an unknown subordinate god, trembling in fear. And seeing him, Mimir answered.
[No. That one is no help.]
Stab!!
“Gahk!!”
“This one?”
[Too filthy. Not acceptable.]
Stab!!!
“Aaargh!”
“This one?”
[Just rip out his divinity.]
Stab!!
“Keuh-huhk!!”
Apparently, all the gods Igeon had just dealt with had been wardens of Valhalla, because the dying gods glared at Igeon.
“You bastards…! Do you really think Lord Tongcheonju will let this slide! He will be here in moments…!”
Igeon laughed at those words.
“Tell him to come. I’ll rip out his one remaining eyeball, too.”
(Continued in the next chapter)