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Chapter 186: Ragnarok (1)
[Long time no see, Lady Artemis.]
Odysseus greeted them while stroking his goatee, a smile never leaving his lips.
“Odysseus. What are you doing here?”
[I came to conquer the divine realm on Lord Ares’ orders... Oh dear. It seems I’ve chosen the wrong location. We'll be on our way. Please make good use of the path.]
Waving his hand cheerfully, Odysseus disappeared.
[Don’t run!]
Hercules' massive hand swipes past where he was, but Odysseus has already vanished.
Even the Black Thunder, which had been heading toward the ground, retreats back into the sky.
“Odysseus... Tch, guess he figured it wasn’t worth fighting and pulled out immediately.”
So they're just using the path—no need to actually conquer the divine realm?
It’d be good to use it as a base, but even if not, they can still use it as a passageway.
As the Black Thunder retreated quickly, Hercules ended up with nothing left to do.
“Let’s pursue them, Hercules. They’re heading to Asgard anyway. We just need to block the path.”
[Hmm... That might be a problem.]
“What?”
[I can deal with intruders in my domain. But I can’t take the initiative to go on the offensive.]
Because of the Chaos Faction’s policy of observation?
Still, it’d be such a waste not to use Hercules’ power.
“Seriously? Is it really that strict of a restriction?”
[Hmm... It’s not an easy restriction to break.]
But it doesn’t seem as strict as a system-enforced rule.
If it were that serious, he would’ve made it sound stronger.
Still, it'd be unfortunate to lose Hercules' support here.
“If they get through to Asgard, this could be the end. It’s been a stalemate up until now because they’ve used the alliance treaty as a shield.”
[Hrm...]
“Look at that sword stuck in your chest. Are you going to just sit back and watch Zeus rise as the Creator without even getting your revenge?”
[The situation isn’t that simple, Kim Jiho.]
“But it’s not completely impossible, right? Let’s block the path at Okeanos. Odysseus just mocked us and left—are you going to just hole up here quietly? Those bastards attacked you too, remember?”
[Hrm...]
“Kekekeke. Hercules. What’s with all the hesitation? Such a waste of that big body.”
A grating laugh.
Hades appeared out of nowhere, walking toward me from the direction of the rocks.
[Hades.]
“That path in the sky... couldn’t we just claim it as part of your domain? What’s the harm? Just say they attacked first.”
[Easier said than done...]
“Hercules. Why did we become Lords of Chaos in the first place? Wasn’t it to take revenge on Olympus? You’re forgetting your true purpose.”
[Hmm...]
“I’ll support you too. I don’t have much justification myself, but I’m going to jump in anyway. At this rate, things will be way too favorable for Zeus. Don’t you think?”
Hercules hesitated for a moment at Hades’ persuasion.
Then he made a decision.
[Let’s go.]
“Good. Heh. So you’ve made up your mind.”
Hercules’ massive body began to float.
Then Hades turned to me.
“You leave this side to us, Soul God. You head to Asgard.”
“Oh? Will just the two of you be okay?”
“If not, we’ll pull back. Kekeke.”
Hades, who had been laughing eerily, suddenly stopped and looked at me seriously.
“Soul God. Do you know about Odysseus?”
“Not really.”
“You don’t know the Trojan Horse? That was his idea.”
Ah.
That I know.
They couldn’t breach the walls of Troy, so they made a wooden horse and tricked the enemy into pulling it inside the city.
So that was Odysseus’ plan, huh.
“In Greek mythology, he’s known as the most cunning hero. So why do you think he didn’t just retreat, but made sure to show his face?”
“A distraction?”
“Most likely. Now think: why did he need to use a decoy? While your feet are tied up, will they fully invade Asgard? Or... do they have a new target?”
“Hrm...”
“Ares’ sword points toward Asgard for now... but would he really move so predictably?”
“Yeah. Got it.”
“Still, I doubt he expected both me and Hercules to join in... so don’t worry about this battlefield and just go.”
Leaving those words behind, Hades flies off with Hercules.
Watching them fly off, they look less like lunatics and more reliable than ever.
Opening the map, I see the enemy army halting just near Asgard.
Behind them, reinforcements are still on the move—clearly preparing for a full assault.
First, I need to head to Asgard—
Bzzzzt.
My vision turned blood red.
A signal for danger detection.
Why now...?
Ah—future foresight?
[Soul God. My victory is at hand.]
[Urgh...]
[I was right to entrust the task to Odysseus.]
A spear from a warrior clad in steel armor pierces my body.
My soul form shatters and begins to fade.
Even in third-person view, watching my own death made my stomach churn.
Is this foresight showing that I’ll die like this?
Focusing all my senses, I imprinted the scene into my mind.
Me, falling to the steel warrior.
All around, many gods had already fallen.
Artemis, my apostle gods...
Even Asura, the three-headed six-armed god, and Thor were among them.
[It’s over now. You may take what you wanted as well.]
The steel warrior says this as light begins to radiate.
The future vision gradually faded.
The scene ends with my complete disappearance.
“Gasp!”
“Kim Jiho? Why are you spacing out?”
Artemis waved a hand in front of me.
But I can’t even see her face clearly.
Cold sweat ran down my spine.
If the last foresight was Odin’s downfall...
This time, it’s my death.
The feeling is completely different.
“Ha... So I’m going to die like that, huh...?”
“What? Die?”
“What are you talking about?”
Startled, Artemis and Kuuga asked, and I explained the foresight I just had.
Their faces instantly turned serious.
“To think I’d be taken down by a warrior in steel armor…”
“That prophecy—are you sure it’s accurate?”
“It’s a power I got from Skuld. She once foresaw Odin getting beaten by Zeus. The future can change, but still, seeing a future where I die…”
“You die… Hmm…”
“In the vision, you were already down.”
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“What?! That’s serious! Tell me more—details!”
“I only saw it for a few seconds.”
Artemis made ten times the fuss at hearing she died than when I said I would.
In contrast, Kuuga, despite his appearance, calmly analyzed the situation.
“Lord God, I’m concerned that Odysseus is involved. And about the fallen gods… Artemis and Thor, okay, but why is Asura there?”
“Hm. True.”
“Maybe it was in Asura Realm? If it was there, Asura might’ve gotten involved.”
“Then what about Thor?”
“Didn’t he promise to protect you?”
“Even when Asgard is under attack?”
“Hmm… That’s…”
Artemis fell into thought.
The prophecy had been too short to gain much information.
But one thing was certain—Odysseus was the problem…
“First, let’s catch that bastard Odysseus. We’ll join up with Hercules and Hades.”
“Yeah. Let’s get up there and beat the crap out of him. Torture him, and he’ll spill the mission he was given. No way I’m dying after finally being freed.”
“Right. Let’s go.”
We rode Triaina and rose into the sky.
Once we passed beyond the skies of the divine realm, the space of Okeanos was revealed.
A dark void like outer space, where Hercules and the Black Thunder were in fierce battle.
[Good grief. How annoying…]
Black Thunder endlessly shot toward Hercules’s massive body.
At first, they were just shaped like lightning, but now some took the form of gods as they attacked Hercules.
Whish. Whish.
With every swing of Hercules’s hand, the Black Thunder shattered like brittle sticks.
[Geez. Scary as hell.]
Odysseus’s voice came from within the Black Thunder.
That guy…
He’s really trying to provoke us.
[Hades. At this rate, we’ll be at a disadvantage.]
Behind Hercules, Hades swung his scythe.
His expression was deeply twisted with frustration.
“Hm. This space… it’s hard to use my powers. I can’t even summon undead. Everything’s annoying. And those guys are using soul-reaping skills… This is a pain.”
After acting so confident, the situation doesn’t look too good now.
We have to get involved.
“Artemis, provide support.”
“Got it.”
“Kuuga, follow slowly.”
“Yes, my lord.”
I drew my soul blade and charged.
Artemis flew beside me, her arrows keeping pace.
Maybe because she saw her own death in the vision, she released hundreds of arrows alongside my charge.
“What… Soul God? Why are you here?”
“Here to take down Odysseus first.”
Zzzt.
I instantly eliminated the Black Thunder near Hades.
With a burst of soul energy from my blade, they vanished easily.
What, and you guys were struggling with these?
“Geez. I’m still worried about Asgard…”
“Looks like the Black Thunder is still advancing. We just need to finish up here quickly and head over.”
“Hm. In that case, I’ll gratefully accept the help.”
[Alright. Let’s finish this.]
Hercules’s voice now carried hope.
So, this guy wasn’t having such an easy time, huh.
I look around.
In this dark space, endless Black Thunder spread out.
Even with Artemis and Kuuga now here, it seems unlikely we can quickly take them all down.
[Now that the Soul God is here, I’m feeling a bit pressured…]
Odysseus peeked out from the middle of the Black Thunder.
His expression—so damn punchable.
Anyway, this guy’s mission is the reason I’m supposed to die, right?
I have to take him down here.
I went all out.
“Apostle Summon.”
I summoned all apostles under my command.
To fight a horde, we need a horde.
Gods of all kinds poured out into the path of Okeanos.
They were fewer in number than the Black Thunder, but they all carried a piece of my power.
They could handle this.
“Everyone, I need your help.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“We are always at your service, Lord God.”
The summoned apostle gods were fully prepared.
Their presence is nothing but reassuring.
“Let’s go. Our top priority is Odysseus.”
We charged toward where his face poked out.
As I got closer, the Black Thunder reached out for me.
Gods tainted in darkness tried to block my way.
“So annoying.”
Whirl.
I swung the tentacles I gained from the Three-Headed Six-Armed Beast like windmills.
Thwack, thwack, thwack.
The Black Thunder couldn’t even resist the soul-infused tentacles and were instantly cut down.
[Wha—tentacles? You modern people are disgusting. Ugh, you pervert.]
“Shut up and just get caught.”
[Heheh. Your apostles are pretty strong, huh? You should’ve used this power to help Asgard. What were you thinking, coming here instead… But now that you’re in my trap, how can I let such a big fish escape?]
Zzzt.
Black Thunder shot in from all directions.
Even with the spinning tentacles, they just kept coming.
The more I moved forward, the more Black Thunder regenerated behind me.
These damn black bolts were endless?
“Lord God, we’ll hold the rear!”
[I’ll help, too.]
The apostles and Hercules started covering my back from the concentrated attacks.
Now that I didn’t have to worry about the rear, I charged straight at Odysseus.
Cutting down Black Thunder and corrupted gods alike.
Maybe because I saw the prophecy of my death…
My focus was sharper than ever.
I charged and charge again—and then I heard a voice.
[Oh my, oh my. This isn’t the Soul God I’ve heard about… Why so reckless? Why so strong? What’s there to gain from chasing little ol’ me, the humble king of Ithaca?]
Odysseus mocked me.
But I can feel it—his presence is growing faint.
That bastard.
He’s trying to escape?
I won’t let that happen.
I have to catch him.
“Triaina. Cut off his escape.”
[Would you like to intervene in Okeanos’s path? If you use Triaina’s authority, you’ll no longer be able to travel through it.]
“That’s fine. I won’t need to teleport with the spear anymore.”
The Triaina on my back began to glow.
After about five seconds, the light faded.
What?
Did it work?
[EEEEK! What is this?! A flood?! Out of nowhere?!]
Yeah, it worked.
Let’s go crush that bastard.
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