n

n

nDohyuk glared at the sculpture, prepared for anything that might strike back. However, Aruga did not respond. There was no voice coming to him, nor was the sculpture coming to life to fight him.

n“…Are you scared?”

nDohyuk then turned away and looked at the bottom.

n…

nWhen Dohyuk spat on the sculpture, Cruudbi was outraged. This was heresy beyond what he could even imagine. He was kicked a few steps off the stairway but he wasn’t injured, and he wouldn’t be.

n“You worthless heretic, how dare you touch the divine object with your filth!”

nCruudbi then tore off his armor with pure force. His muscles were revealed under the shining sun. He was part of the 1st generation of Bermurans who faced the trial of Casita and survived. As such, his loyalty toward Aruga was unmatched.

n“I will…”

nHis body began to expand.

nZealotry. His anger was now driving his body to gather the strength to punish his enemy.

n“Tear your arms apart…!”

nCruudbi was now 50% larger than his normal self, but as he tried to walk up, someone blocked him. It was Kyuho who was much smaller than Cruudbi.

n“I see… I’ll deal with you first..”

n“Shut up!”

nKyuho then threw off his turban. His face was revealed and it shocked Cruudbi. He was crying like a child who was just punished by his parents.

nCruudbi did not care, however. He did not need to ask why was he crying. Kyuho was going to die right here, right now. Cruudbi threw a punch. The speed and strength both exceeded that what of any human at this stage could withstand. However, Kyuho did not try to dodge.

n“You…”

nHis fist did not hit the target. It was blocked, or rather, grabbed. Cruudbi tried to retract his arm, but he couldn’t do that either. The strength holding him was just too great.

n“W-WHAT!?”

n“It’s all because of you all….!”

nKyuho growled, “You made me hit Dohyuk’s face…. And.”

nKyuho then looked up.

nHate Engine

n“You stabbed Dohyuk.”

n“…!”

nKyuho’s body began to heat up. His Nature was activating. It was the Nature that he can never activate against Dohyuk.

n-Increases user’s strength

/agility

/stamina per the ‘hate’ rating against the target. High original stats will be boosted even higher. If the hate is stronger, the stats will grow exponentially.

nKyuho crushed Cruudbi’s fist. He then raised his other hand and threw it.

nWhen Cruudbi was hit, his body was thrown back, almost spinning if it wasn’t for Kyuho holding his crushed hand.

n“YOU BASTAAAAARD!!!”

nKyuho then began pummeling. Tens of fists were thrown at second, and Cruudbi’s body began to shatter.

n<>

nEven after the message popped up, Kyuho did not stop. He was now letting out a weird sound as he just kept thrashing against the already crushed body. But as he heard footsteps, he stopped and turned. The heat from his body disappeared and returned to normal.

n“Dohyuk!”

nHe smiled brightly, “…? What’s wrong? Did you get hurt?! Or did I hit someplace bad…?”

n“…”

n‘No, it’s because of you, you sick bastard.’

nDohyuk wanted to say it, but instead, he just shook his pale face.

n“No, it’s alright.”

n“Really? Are you su-” Kyuho asked. Dohyuk then checked his ‘Crescent’ he was holding. Kyuho was a monster. But it was also him who saved Dohyuk’s life and help him get the weapon.

n“Good work. And… thank you.”

nDohyuk tapped on his shoulder, but immediately took off. He had to, as Kyuho’s body began to shake tremendously right after.

n“Heeeeehehehehehe.”

n“…?!”

nNot only that, Kyuho began mumbling with a weird expression as if he had just gone into a trance.

n“I received it… he said thank you… he said… he said.. he said…”

nDohyuk turned away. He couldn’t understand, but it wasn’t the right time to be around him.

n“I only only only only only heard six times until now…”

nDohyuk then walked down the stairs. The fence that Heeyun made was still intact. There were people on the other side, but they did not dare to come over. They all saw what happened upstairs. There was the Great Emperor and his Crescent Moon. Even those who did not know about Dohyuk and Kyuho, were shocked by what they just witnessed.

n“Is that…”

n“Even possible?”

nNobody dared to imagine. It took them 10 years in their previous life to wander the desert and finally walk into Bermuran cities to take their city. That’s what everyone remembered. People believed they would reduce the time down to one or two years.

nBut this was not how they knew about it. This was the way that anyone with former memory would not even think about doing. Even Kyuho couldn’t think of such a way.

nBefore Dohyuk could speak to those people, they heard a scream from the distance.

nIt was from the Bermuran guards. Unlike humans, there was a reason why these Bermurans were standing there without doing anything.

n“I knew it.”

nDohyuk bit his lips as he watched tens of guards shaking with their veins popping out. Their ‘god’ was not going to just let this pass. That’s when an invisible force began drawing guards into one giant ball. Their destroyed bones and flesh mixed with one another. Soon, something came out from within.

n<>

nA giant 6-meter tall monster walked out from it. The bloodied figure looked exactly like the sculpture of Aruga. But it wasn’t just a sculpture or shrine that brought god’s spirit into this realm. This was the more expensive way that consumed many of his followers.

n“And you said they’re ‘your precious citizens’?”

nDohyuk gritted his teeth. This one was the same. All gods were the same. They did not care who it was. All living beings were just consumables to them.

n“Sure, we’ll have a go then.”

nDohyuk stood. His legs shook in fear, but still-

n“COME ON!”

nAt that moment-

n<>

n-Over the Horizon

nAnd the people turned. They saw Dohyuk and heard his voice, ready to fight against the monster that no one in this current stage could ever hope to defeat.

n“…”

nFor one, they forgot about running. They were beasts, but still had the feeling of admiration. This was a sight to behold.

n<>

n<>

n<>

nAnd with these words, Dohyuk felt surging energy within him. This was the feeling that even the Great Emperor in the previous life had not felt.

n<>

n<>

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