At those words, I let out a scoff of disbelief.
[What, the core?]
After all, a Gunju’s core was located deep within its body.
And although Eun, for some reason, greatly disliked transforming into a monster form, most Krudeo had combat-type monster forms.
‘The human form is only to lure prey.’
Anyway, piercing the vital point of that monster form?
Even piercing through the far tougher vital point to reach the core?
It was no ordinary feat.
‘The bodies of the 1st generation are much harder.’
While the 3rd or 2nd generation were still young and had softer flesh, the 1st generation were literally fossil-like bastards, so much so that even Geon’s divine weapon had difficulty piercing them.
For that reason, Hugo, who knew this better than anyone, instead of a physical method, injected power directly to stop the core.
And then he brought it after chopping it into pieces so it couldn't move.
Well, the problem was that he brought it back alive.
As expected.
I laughed sharply, with a look of disgust.
[Tear out my core? Not only did you take my power, but you're planning to use it to kill other Gunju as well?]
He seemed to immediately grasp Hugo's scheme.
Because the Gunju he created were linked to his own core.
So by using the core, he could force them to self-destruct, or if he cast a curse, he could take them all down at once.
The reason the 2nd generation Gunju call Eun 'Elders' and protect him is not only because of his overwhelming power, but also because of that influence.
But.
[How absurd.]
Eun raised the corners of his mouth.
After all, the body of a 1st generation Gunju, which could be called a fossil, was the most powerful body that would never break.
[Have you forgotten how we were born? We were born the hardest in the world after passing through the winds of the Void Realm.]
One had died long ago, and another had also vanished after fulfilling their duty, I heard.
Now, the only one left is I myself.
[At this point, when there are no other 1st generation left, who could possibly destroy me?]
But Hugo smiled.
There is someone.
“There's me, who's just like you.”
[!]
With those words, as Hugo released his power, his physical form began to change.
Flash!
Surprised by that sight, I raised an eyebrow as if it was unexpected.
Hugo was clearly abandoning his human form and returning to his full Krudeo form.
Until now, he had only briefly transformed parts of his body, but now it was different.
As expected.
I let out a hollow laugh.
[Have you truly gone mad?!]
“No, I haven't gone mad.”
[Didn't you abandon me and go to that snake god to receive absolution? If you return to human form, you won't be able to receive it anymore.]
It meant that the deferred karma would immediately return, and you would be annihilated before you could receive it.
[So isn't that why you deliberately didn't transform into a Krudeo and dealt with me while still human?!]
“Yes, that thought was wrong from the start.”
[……!!]
“From the beginning, it was wrong of me to try to receive absolution for my sins from someone else.”
[!]
In the sweet happiness of family, in the overwhelming will of someone like Lee Geon, I had forgotten until now.
That Lee Geon, unexpectedly, was someone who didn't value his own life very highly.
He was originally terminally ill, and given his profession, it wouldn't be strange for him to die at any time, so he wasn't even afraid of death, but this was different.
‘To get pardon for my meager sins, should I let a perfectly fine friend die?’
And it was far better for that great hero to survive than someone like me.
Moreover, when he came out of the vault, hadn't Lee Geon flinched in surprise because he didn't sense my presence?
‘His body hasn't fully recovered yet.’
And if I die first, the targets for the Indulgence would naturally be reduced to just the one for Lee Geon himself and the portion for Heilly.
That was it. If the Indulgence had a limit of only two sheets, then it was enough for one person to just disappear.
Although my family would be worried, it was fine.
Financially, there would be no problem, and if it failed, hadn't Lee Geon said he would make a substitute with better specs than me, both above and below?
And a 1000% faith substitute made by Lee Geon would support Lee Geon.
And the moment I went crazy with that thought.
Flash!!
[You bastard!]
Finally, Hugo completely transformed into the form of a Krudeo.
The human hide, the human skin tore away, and the monster was revealed.
And flustered by his resolve to die together, I also hastily returned to my original monster form.
But Eun immediately flashed his eyes.
[Leave Geon two SSS-grade materials of the highest strength as a final gift. Since they are the only two absolutely unbreakable materials in the world, he'll be pleased.]
[Stop!!]
No sooner were those words spoken, I mercilessly stabbed the body of the 1st generation Gunju.
[Keuk!]
His chest was pierced.
Crack!!
Splitting that hard heart that no divine weapon could pierce, his hand dug all the way to the bastard's core.
[Aagh!]
At the same time, Hugo immediately felt a change come over his body.
[The bonds of being human placed on Hugo have been released.]
[All the karma accumulated on Hugo returns.]
Only a small portion of karma had returned, but seeing his outstretched hand rot and disintegrate, Hugo gave a bitter smile.
Happiness, life, possessions.
He had been a wicked man who could only take from others.
Maybe that's why he liked the Creators, who could make things for others instead of taking.
That's why he was grateful to Lee Geon.
Because he was the one who made a hero out of him, who would have whined about not being able to catch a single monster.
‘Thank you.’
For letting me meet Jiwoo and the children.
For making me a hero.
For making me, who could only take, into someone who can protect others.
‘You must be happy with Heilly.’
Eun did not hesitate.
‘It should have been like this from the start.’
Hugo, who held Eun's core, blew the core up in one go.
Boom!!
[Aagh!!]
I screamed and burst apart. As a result, the internal facility that had been leeching Lee Geon's power also exploded.
Flash!
At the same time, Hugo, receiving the karma, also vanished in an instant along with a flash of light.
Nothing remained in that spot.
* * *
The annihilation of Eun, and the annihilation of Hugo.
The annihilation of the 1st generation Gunju created a miraculous event in the world.
[Aagh!!!]
All the Gunju across the world who were connected to Eun began to scream as their bodies shattered.
And as the Gunju turned to dust and disappeared, even the Krudeo looked flustered.
[What the… Keuk!!]
And the Krudeo who were under the influence of the Gunju also clutched their throats and fell to the ground.
All over the world, Krudeo began to show abnormal symptoms.
That wasn't all.
[You bastard… Keuk!]
All Krudeo began to disappear.
[Keuk!]
[Aagh!]
Lee Jaewon smiled at the curses the Krudeo spat as they vanished.
All the Krudeo that had been flying around vigorously were collapsing with respiratory distress, and the Gunju were turning to ash and scattering!
“Young master, young lady! It seems Lord Hugo has done something!”
But despite Lee Jaewon's bright expression, the Cheon siblings actually furrowed their brows.
“Hugo? Who's that?”
“Shingungjwa Seongdo?”
“Huh? Who… Uh? Who did I just say?”
Throughout the world, the memory of Hugo was disappearing.
At that phenomenon, I let out a hollow laugh. He immediately realized what had happened.
Sure enough, Eun cackled, clutching his stomach, and mocked Lee Geon.
[So your friend ended up choosing the worst, it seems.]
“!”
I didn't think you'd handle the Krudeo you dragged along in this way.
After all, I knew you had an Indulgence.
And wasn't he already displeased that you tried to use his possession to erase the karma of a mere Gunju?
So while I considered it fortunate that the precious Indulgence remained, I laughed scornfully as if despising him.
[So this is what you had planned. Is this your way of fighting? Sacrificing others?]
Eun raised the corner of his mouth.
Well, it didn't matter.
‘The fact that Hugo's memory disappeared means he received karma and was annihilated.’
Normally, sinners who bear such karma have their very existence erased when they are annihilated.
Simply put, the universe does not even want to leave a trace that such people existed in this world.
There's nothing more to say about SSS-grade condemned sinners like him.
And for someone of that level, only a very few gods—those of the Great Saint God level or those who are not sinners—could still remember his existence.
Because the universe makes it as if he had never existed at all.
In fact, now, no, those who remember Hugo would only be Lee Geon, Eun, and perhaps the Primordial Gods.
Therefore, Eun chuckled.
‘A good thing.’
Anyway, Eun was the one who had arrogantly raised his sword at us for killing those thorn-in-the-side Creators.
[I don't know what cunning words you used to persuade that filthy Gunju to commit suicide, but I'll praise you for it.]
Still, Eun was a guy who was crazy about Creators.
No doubt he fell for Lee Geon's words and committed suicide.
[Your skill in using even the Gunju will serve as a very good example. Honestly, I'm relieved that you know your place and limits as a Saint God.]
But Lee Geon laughed lightly.
Well, I honestly didn't expect that idiot to die first so that I couldn't use the Indulgence.
“It doesn't matter. This kind of thing from that idiot was within my expectations anyway.”
[What?]
From the moment I knew that bastard was in the vault, I thought that if it was him, he might do something like this.
Especially since I had even told him about what would happen if the plan failed.
Well, to be honest, I had hoped it wouldn't come to this.
“So that means the plan to kill you bastard remains unchanged.”
Soon, Lee Geon's fierce red snake eyes turned towards Eun.
Seeing that, Eun snorted.
[Don't rejoice just because you made one Krudeo go extinct thanks to that. Your weakness won't disappear because of it.]
Lee Geon's weakness in ability.
It is that he cannot pass on his legacy.
[Only the current humans of the last 20 years remember you. If you kill all of humanity, there will be no one to remember and worship you. As a god, your record will disappear.]
A god's record begins to be engraved in the universe only after at least 100 years have passed.
From the time when it fades from human memory and begins to be left only in word of mouth or records.
That's why gods try to endure for 100 years by any means.
Because the battles of gods never end in a single stroke.
[A hundred years, two hundred years, at times thousands of years. They pass on their legacy and continue fighting on the same land.]
Gods who cannot pass on their legacy become mere losers who just pass by.
[That's why even newly born genius gods live like a mouse for at least 100 years! Not arrogantly throwing their weight around like you!]
[Is that all your last words?]
[Don't pretend to be strong. I've already grasped that your physical condition is very poor right now. If we clash now, you will definitely die.]
Eun immediately drew up the power of annihilation.
[Even if we both go down, I can pass on my legacy. Then I will leisurely take all your achievements, your divine statuses, and even the Primordial God.]
Moreover, this land is quite a decent place for gods to settle and start anew as a divine realm.
It has holy men qualified to become vassal gods, and excellent faith.
[So I'll give you one last chance.]
Eun flashed his eyes.
He seemed to want to prevent Lee Geon from doing something strange and needlessly whittling down his own durability.
Sure enough.
[Unless you give up, the gods will fight in this land for hundreds, thousands of years. That's nothing to us. In the end, it's only the humans here who will suffer. Do you understand?]
Lee Geon's psychological weakness is humans.
Since he himself has lived a human life, he thinks of his affiliation as being on that side.
Thus, he is a god who cares for humans so much that he instinctively gives off the scent of humans.
Therefore, that he cannot see humans as colonial subjects and feels a sense of kinship is the biggest weakness of a bastard like him!
So he was telling him to give up and hand over the Indulgence if he didn't want to see humans being tormented.
[So, what's your answer?]
Lee Geon chuckled.
“Fuck off. Do whatever you want, you retarded bastard.”
[What?]
“Because from the start, I'll make it so you god bastards can never lay a hand on humans.”
[How absurd….]
But at that moment, Lee Geon activated his creation ability.
At the same time, he summoned something.
With a brilliant light, what appeared in his hand was none other than an [...] .
(To be continued in the next episode)