On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 32: The Almighty of Creation

“Proliferating Thumb of God!”

Ding ding!

“Oh? Wow, it’s really multiplying. Fascinating~”

“What are you doing?” my editor shoved his flushed face toward me.

“Hic! Ehehe, I’m playing a game. Would you like to see it? Aren’t my ants super cute? Look at them multiplying whenever I touch them!”

When I showed my editor the multiplying ants, he was enraged.

“Wait! Instead of working on his manuscript, this asshole is playing games?! Are you nuts?!

Naturally, I got angry as well.

“So what?! I can do whatever I want!”

“Hey, Asshole! Be honest with me! You missed the deadline because you were gaming, right?!”

“Who are you calling an asshole? You asshole of an editor-in-charge! Are you done yet?!”

“Just you see! I’ll straighten your shit today!”

“Hmph! Get rid of those flabs first! You look pregnant!”

“What? You punk!”

My editor-in-charge yanked my hair.

Oh-ho! And you call yourself a dignified man belonging to the novel world?!

***

Meanwhile, back in Antrinia...

Thanks to Yu Il-Shin and his black tribe, the horde of demons was annihilated, except for the very first demon summoned by Cockroach. He was extremely cautious. He survived the allure of the deadly trap and even the spray of toxic gas. Naturally, as he had never left for the surface.

Crack crack! Gulp!

He buried himself deep in the ground, sustaining himself with just dirt. Compared to the food he could get on the surface, it might not be the best. But for the sake of surviving and getting his revenge, this would have to suffice.

Crunch! Crunch!

After eating for some time, his body split into two. Then, he resumed eating again. Even when his stomach threatened to burst, he repeated the process, efficiently and effectively hastening the multiplying progress. Soon, their numbers exceeded ten thousand, far surpassing their previous count. Not long after, their numbers surpassed the billions.

The very first demon was proud and confident. Their overwhelming numbers would render the use of trap, bait, or poisonous gas useless, and make their enemy yield without a fight!

-Kyaaaak!

His kin, hiding underground, broke through to the surface. It was time for revenge. He was determined to devour every bit of flesh and bone of the black tribe and the god they served, leaving nothing behind.

Boom boom boom! Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Like erupting volcanoes, the demons burst through the ground, threatening to swallow the entire continent. Unbeknownst to them, their emergence on the surface had been expected.

“Praise the miracle that God Yu Il-Shin has bestowed upon us! My fellow tribesmen, let’s get rid of those wicked fiends in the name of our Lord, God Yu Il-Shin!” the Saintess cried out.

Shiver!

Billions of black ants surrounded the demons that threatened to overturn the world. They were created by the innate power Proliferating Thumb of God.

-Proliferating Thumb of God!

The heavily alcohol-intoxicated Yu Il-Shin suddenly raised his thumb, directed it at his followers, and used his innate power.

[The effects of Proliferating Thumb of God multiplied the Saintess and 100 ants from the black tribe!]

[Effect: The number of the Lowest-tier followers in the world doubles every thirty minutes.]

[Duration: 24 hours]

Pop! Pop pop! Pop pop pop!

Suddenly, a strong energy fell upon them, and their fellows began multiplying. The sight caused a massive confusion. However, it turned out to be preordained by their god so that they could eradicate every single one of those demons!

The Saintess was overwhelmed with awe toward their great and merciful god.

Shiver.

The feelers of the demons twitched in fear. All this time, overwhelming their enemies with numbers had always been their modus operandi, but how the table had turned...

“Attack!”

“Waaaaah! Die, demons!”

“May God be with us!”

Bam bam bam bam!

The fanatical cries of the black tribe announced the beginning of a carnage.

***

Ding!

[You have succeeded in subjugating the God of Destroyer ???’s familiar, Demons of Catastrophe.]

[You have been rewarded with 300,000,000 White Gcoins.]

[The title Benevolent Savior has risen from Rank D to C.]

[Congratulations!]

[This is a great feat impossible for a newborn god to achieve!]

[The newly leveled-up benevolent god title has changed Yu Il-Shin's alignment from neutral to good.]

Ding!

[A few high-ranking benevolent gods express great interest in Yu Il-Shin.]

[Amongst them, Infinite Abundance willingly gives her support.]

[Other high-ranking benevolent and malevolent gods are shocked.]

[Especially Silently Crawling Nightmare, who is glowering at her.]

[Infinite Abundance confidently puffed her voluptuous chest.]

Ding!

[The Support system has been unlocked.]

[As a privilege for getting the Benevolent Savior title to Rank C, you can now choose any power you like.]

[The fees will be covered by Infinite Abundance.]

Ding!

[You have chosen the following power.]

-----

[Creation (Transcendent God-tier)]

Category: Power exclusive to Transcendent Gods

Price: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Gcoins

-----

[Infinite Abundance’s hands trembled, breaking into cold sweat.]

[Her chest is heaving.]

[She is looking at you with wistful eyes.]

[She warns that the Transcendent God-tier power is dangerous, capable of affecting the causality of the world.]

[Do you really, really want to choose the Transcendent God-tier power? (Yes/No)]

Unfortunately, the finger relentlessly clicked on “Yes.”

Ding!

[Infinite Abundance eventually bursts into tears.]

[Other high-ranking benevolent gods sympathize with her.]

[Other high-ranking malevolent gods chuckle in amusement.]

[Silently Crawling Nightmare sprinkles ground sesame with salt in her tea.]

[Some of the malevolent gods’ favorability toward you increases.]

Ding!

[You have purchased Creation.]

[Creation is a Transcendent God-tier power.]

[You are not at the level to fully utilize the full potential of this power.]

[The power adapts itself to match your level, becoming False Creation with one-time use.]

[A portion of the Gcoins paid for the purchase will be returned to Infinite Abundance.]

[Infinite Abundance breathed a sigh of relief.]

Ding!

[Yu Il-Shin activates False Creation!]

[Whiiiiiir!]

[Warning!]

[The world will be partially altered.]

***

“Ugh.” I woke up suffering from a terrible headache.

I could faintly recall myself getting into a fight with my editor, then reconciling with him at our second round of drinks... But I couldn’t remember anything after.

Ah, my head hurts.

“What the hell?”

I found myself sprawled on the park bench in just my underwear. My hand was gripping my phone tightly, with God-Maker still running.

“That treacherous bastard! He abandoned me and went off on his own!”

I’ll stand him up in our next meeting!

With that determination in mind, I quickly gathered my clothes, which were scattered all over the ground. Thankfully, nobody was around, or I might have ended up in jail.

“Huh?”

When I looked up at the night sky, something stood out to me. The moon was shining brightly upon this drunkard writer. It was so mesmerizing, that Lee Tae-Baek would probably fall in love at first sight, haha. But there was another one.

“Ms. Moon, you had a twin?” I rubbed my eyes, thinking that I was hallucinating, but there were still two of them in the sky. “I’m still drunk, it seems.”

Sigh. I should quickly go home, wash up, and get some sleep. The pair of moons that illuminated me was unusually bright that night.

「Breaking News! A second moon appeared in the sky at 2:10 a.m. without any warning! NASA’s report on the so-called 'Second Moon' suggests the possibility of a huge crack forming, which could lead to the emergence of a gate...」

「The Hunter Association put a special team of Hunter on standby to respond to calls of emergencies from now on...」

「The United States has launched a rocket to explore the Second Moon! The expedition is led by Gate Cracks Expert Rick Goldstone, along with SSS-rank Hunter Royce and SS-rank Hunter Jack Black...」

[Nave Keyword Search Ranking]

1. Second Moon

2. Gate Crack

3. NASA report

4. United States Second Moon Expedition rocket launch

5. Special hunter mission team members

...

Rumble—!

While I was asleep, the world was being turned upside down. At the same time, it gave birth to a certain darkness that had been lurking around.

***

Among the approximately 100 guilds in Korea, there existed a certain mid-tier guild called Brilliance Guild. For the past decade, it had consistently placed 50th on the Hunter Association’s evaluation rankings, almost as if by design.

However, humans were unpredictable. Unlike what the name suggested, this guild dominated the black market in South Korea. Not only did it manufacture and distribute illegal drugs made from monsters, but it also engaged in organ trafficking of high-tenacity Hunters.

The headquarters of Brilliance Guild was situated in the outskirts of the Gyeonggi Province.

“Huff puff!”

Two men could be seen panting as they climbed the stairs. One of them was Guild Leader Park Sang-Chul of the Brilliance Guild, while the other was his henchman, a muscular middle-aged man over two meters tall.

Slam!

He opened the door to the penthouse harshly, yelling, “Mr. Apostle! We’ve finally found the brats responsible for our people’s disappearance! One of them is none other than the A-rank Hunter, Thunder Emperor...!”

“Shush.”

In the middle of the penthouse, a man could be seen standing naked with his back turned to them. His long, dark auburn hair and chiseled body resembled that of a Greek statue.

Park Sang-Chul briefly fell into a hollow trance, and when he turned to the side...

“Haaah!”

All that was left of the henchmen who followed him all the way there were their shoes, with their ankles still attached. The rest of their bodies had been severed by what appeared to be a sharp blade.

Chills traveled down Park Sang-Chul’s spine. His henchmen had died right next to him. How did he not realize it? As a B-rank Hunter, he could tell that this was definitely on another level.

“M-Mr. Apostle! Please forgive me!” Park Sang-Chul fell to his knees, turning white.

The man called “Mr. Apostle” was the actual owner of the Brilliance Guild, who also happened to be a Hermit.

As far as Park Sang-Chul understood, despite not being registered with the Hunter Association, the man’s abilities were infinite. In fact, his existence was the very reason why the Brilliance Guild was able to dominate the tumultuous black market.

“Look at the sky, Guild Leader.”

“W-what?”

When he looked up, Park Sang-Chul finally realized that the ceiling had disappeared without a trace. Beyond that were two moons shining brightly in the night sky.

“Do you see it?” the Apostle asked in response.

The man, who had killed people as easily as crushing bugs, smiled compassionately like an angel.

“Rejoice, for God has given me a revelation. Our long-awaited day has finally arrived.”

“Y-you mean...?” Park Sang-Chul began sweating a fountain of cold sweat, shaking in his boots.

“Indeed. The time has come for me, the Apostle of God, to make my existence known to this world. Please arrange for the ceremony.”

“How many people should I prepare this time...?”

“The more lambs, the better, yes? Ah, right, let’s prepare two thousand of them first.”

By “lambs,” the man was referring to human sacrifices. Park Sang-Chul felt a surge of terror at the absurdity he was hearing.

Such inhuman beauty and eccentricity—! Such profound, mysterious abilities—!

Perhaps Johan was correct in proclaiming himself as the apostle. An apostle of the devil, rather than god.

“P-please give me some time. I, your lowly servant, will definitely fulfill your wishes.”

Then, Apostle Johan looked up at the two moons in the night sky, fervently shedding tears.

“Bestowing God’s salvation upon this wretched world.”