Chapter 564 - Qualification Test (5) (1/2)

Yeon-woo’s eyes widened. Which version? What did that mean? He didn’t know if the reflection was Kronos or himself, but he was sure that it was speaking to him. Before he could speak, the reflection smirked.

Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.

As soon as the words appeared, the reflection faded and muck of the swamp began to climb up Yeon-woo’s hand towards his shoulder. Whoosh! “Hup!”

The muck sank through his skin and tried to enter his veins. Yeon-woo instinctively tried to pull his arm back, but the swamp tightened around him.

“Kronos!” Oceanus frantically stretched out his hand. Using his holy power, he froze the steam in the air to create a blade of ice and cut off the muck attached to Yeon-woo. However, his skin and veins had already absorbed it.

“Are you all right?” Oceanus’ voice was full of desperation as he caught the falling Yeon-woo, but Yeon-woo couldn’t answer him.

Thump! Thump! Yeon-woo’s heart pounded like crazy. His veins pulsed like they were going to explode, and his blood circulated so fast that his breathing grew rapid. It felt as if something were tightening around his body, as though he were a towel being wrung dry. He found it difficult to regain his composure when it felt as though his soul were being shredded. Thump! Thump!

Which version of me are you?

How many times have I spun through the cycle?

Well, no matter.

I can just do it again until it works.

Countless letters whirled in his head. They combined and fell apart, creating multiple sentences. The reflection seemed to be laughing at him, and Yeon-woo could feel his consciousness expanding infinitely. The cells and Factors in his body tore apart and merged over and over. Divine Factors broke into pieces and reformed with even greater strength. Holy power swelled up inside him like a balloon and the level of his soul was refined.

A horrific divine fever tormented his mind and body. Even as he panted, Yeon-woo managed to recognize the sensation. ‘Demonism!’

It was like the feeling he experienced whenever he held Vigrid to combine with the Demonism. However, it was more painful now, most likely due to the fact that the power of darkness was being forced on him. ‘So, this guy is the Black King’s…!’ He couldn’t think lucidly anymore as the fever grew worse.

“This won’t do.” Oceanus decided that Yeon-woo was in danger and tried to carry him away on his back. Despite his terrible state, Yeon-woo was surprised to see that Oceanus was genuinely trying to help instead of taking the opportunity to eliminate a rival.

However, Oceanus’ attempt was futile. The fever made Yeon-woos’ body so hot that it was impossible to touch him, and another strange phenomenon occurred. Large bubbles formed on the surface of the swamp, and peculiar monsters began to appear. Fish? Amphibians? They were grotesque and covered entirely in scales. Even the gods of Olympus, who had traveled throughout the universe, found it hard to identify what they were.

Kieeek! The bizarre creatures each held different weapons. As soon as they met Oceanus' eyes, they dashed towards him. There were easily a hundred of them.

“Good gracious…!” Where had these creatures come from? Oceanus didn’t have time to think as he swiftly created a wall of ice to block the monsters from approaching.

Thud! Thud! However, each of the monsters had the strength of a divine being, and after ramming the wall of ice a few times, the wall looked like it was on the verge of cracking.

“Brother!”

“Are you all right, brother?”

“What is that…!”

The rest of the party rushed over to protect Yeon-woo and Oceanus, activating their powers. There were bursts of light as an intense heat rose and wind lashed around. The party was clearly afraid. The monsters weren’t only unnerving, there was another strength emanating from somewhere beyond the swamp that made their hair stand on end. They had fought all sorts of enemies, including Mother Earth, but it was their first time to face such a being—something stronger than Uranus, who dominated everything.

Soon, the ice wall broke, and the unexpected battle between the strange monsters and the siblings of Olympus began.

* * *

“What is the meaning of this! Kronos is hurt…?”

After the stand-off at the swamp, the gods of Olympus quickly retreated at Oceanus’ orders. Fortunately, the farther they were from the swamp, the weaker the strange monsters grew. In the end, it was easy to defeat them.

The news of Yeon-woo’s injury made Uranus hastily appear through a portal.

“Father! What about Mother Earth…!” Oceanus was directing the battle, and he was surprised to see Uranus appear. Uranus and the supreme gods of other societies had been working on putting Mother Earth to sleep, and Oceanus didn’t understand why Uranus would show up. However, his voice trailed off when he saw that Uranus’ left arm was missing. “Your arm…?”

“That is not important right now! This can easily be healed with holy power. What about our youngest? How is Kronos?”

‘Your injury isn’t an insignificant matter either.’ Oceanus swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue.