Chapter 193

'Who... am I?'

Hwang Dongsoo's soul, endlessly falling towards the black abyss, the sea of the afterlife, was seeing a whirlwind of his past.

'Who am I...?'

Flash! The panorama of his life unfolded rapidly before his eyes.

Well, it wasn't that impressive a life, even looking back at it this way. He was born into a poor family. Abandoned by his only brother for being incompetent. He was lucky enough to become an S-rank villain, but was immediately chased by that damned Choi Jong-In and Woo Jinchul!

And then he met 'them.' 'The Outer Gods' Cult.' At first, he thought they were just another multi-level company disguised as a cult. But it turned out they were more than that, with various businesses and a considerable scale. Above all, they possessed ruthlessness, easily disregarding the suffering of others to achieve their goals. But that's what made them trustworthy. He found it easier to deal with those who didn't hide their desires than those who pretended to be virtuous while concealing their true intentions. Besides, Hwang Dongsoo, who was evading the Association, needed a lot of intelligence. In that respect, the Outer Gods' Cult was quite useful, with their excellent information network. So Hwang Dongsoo readily joined hands with them. He would lend his strength, and they would provide him with information. A fair trade where each side gave and received what they needed.

'Yes, that's how it started.'

'Ah, and then I came to Yangpyeong...'

From Hwang Dongsoo's perspective, this mission wasn't particularly difficult. They wanted him to clear a field-type dungeon that had appeared in Yangpyeong without anyone knowing. More precisely, to eliminate all the magical beasts there so that the Outer Gods' Cult could open a black market under the cover of it. It was an extremely simple request.

But.

'...I was played like a fiddle.'

Hwang Dongsoo's soul gritted its teeth fiercely. He only came to his senses after dying. He remembered what the Outer Gods' Cult had done to him. The field-type dungeon in Yangpyeong. There was a suspicious magic circle laid out there from the beginning. At the time, he thought it was a characteristic of the dungeon, but in reality, that magic was a trap they had prepared for him. And the moment Hwang Dongsoo stepped inside, he was caught in that magic. Like a mantis caught in a spider web. ...And so, Hwang Dongsoo became the High Priest. After that, he sincerely worshiped Itarim and followed their orders without question. Whenever he prayed fervently in the chapel, the Outer Gods Itarim would always bestow grand revelations from somewhere in that great world.

[Spread the Stardust widely.]

[And a great gate will open on this land.]

[Open the gate and Itarim will come.]

[Itarim will come...]

Ah, Itarim!

'...To think I was fooled by such nonsense!'

Kyaaaaaaaaaaa - Hwang Dongsoo's soul couldn't hide its frustration. He could see the sea of the afterlife opening its mouth towards him from far below.

He didn't want to go there. 

'Why?' Was it because he was angry at being played by the Outer Gods' Cult? Did he want revenge?

'No.' It was because he realized there was a more fundamental reason, a far more critical mission he had to fulfill.

Kyaaaaaaaaaaa - Hwang Dongsoo's soul roared. He struggled with all his might to escape this terrifying sea that was swallowing him, flailing his arms. And he desperately reached out towards the distant sky, from which he had fallen.

'I can't die like this!'

'I will return!'

'I...!'

'I!'

At the end of Hwang Dongsoo's desperate gaze, a fierce battle was taking place in that distant sky.

Rumble! Crash!

The statue of Itarim. 

The giant statue that the Outer Gods' Cult had created in Itarim's image!

An incredibly small human was fighting against that giant monster!

'...!'

Hwang Dongsoo saw his face. He saw his eyes. He witnessed the darkness unfolding from his hands. And he instinctively realized who he was.

The moment he realized that crucial truth. He recognized that great darkness, resembling the truly great 'him', not some mere Itarim!

Kyaaaaaaaaaaa! 

[Please...! Save this dying soul of mine!] 'Greed' roared.

[...Call my name!]

Rumble!

At that moment Suho, who was fighting the statue of Itarim, turned his head and saw him. His eyes found Hwang Dongsoo's soul, slowly sinking and disappearing into the sea of the afterlife. He found his desperate hand reaching out. Suho reached out without hesitation and grabbed him.

"Arise."

...!

"Greed."

Ding!

[Shadow Extraction successful.]

[Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!]

Greed grabbed his hand and rose from the sea of the afterlife. And with that volcanic momentum, he immediately leaped up and punched the damned statue of Itarim right in the face.

Boom!

Half of its face exploded and shattered.

[Kaaagh! How dare you betray me!] With tremendous murderous intent, the statue's giant hand flew towards Greed and crushed him.

Bang!

But.

[How dare you...]

Greed, who had blocked the statue's giant hand with his strength, slowly emerged from beneath it.

[Greed Lv.1]

Rank: General.

... !

[Trying to play a cheap trick on me, a former member of the Shadow Army?]

[Kieek! You're back, Greed!]

[Greed!] 

Beru and Iron cheered, welcoming his return. He also recognized them and his eyes lit up. But this wasn't the time for a leisurely reunion.

[Everyone...] Just like Iron, Greed, who had returned as a Shadow Soldier, instinctively recognized Suho's true identity. And he also understood the role he had to play as the strongest soldier here.

[Assist the Little Monarch! I'll take the lead!] 

Fwoosh!

At that moment, all the Shadow Soldiers charged towards the statue of Itarim. And all their attacks concentrated on the statue's necklace, which Suho was also attacking.

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Stone fragments scattered in all directions, and finally, the statue's necklace cracked. But Greed, who was once Itarim's High Priest, knew that the statue's real weakness was hidden inside it!

[Little Monarch, now's the time! That place...!] 

Before Greed could finish, Suho was already swinging his sword with all his might. Using the Iron Body technique. The black energy extended a giant black blade from the two Vulcan's Horns. 

Slash! He sliced through the statue's core, which was now exposed. 

Ding!

[You have defeated the statue of the Outer Gods'.]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

...! 

Rumble!

Before Suho, who had achieved a tremendous level up, could rejoice, the giant statue began to crumble on the spot. And the impact was directed towards those who remained nearby. 

"Uaagh!" The surviving Outer Gods' Cult members, demons, and ordinary Hunters scattered in panic as stone fragments rained down on them. 

"Protect Grandpa!" 

The fastest to react to Suho's shout was Greed. [Mr. Sung Il-Hwan! I've come to rescue you!]

"...Well, that was a quick change of heart." Sung Il-Hwan, who had collapsed on the floor, exhausted after expending all his strength, chuckled and obediently let Greed carry him out of there.

[A-are you alright?] 

"You ask even though you know. Cough." 

Blood trickled from Sung Il-Hwan's mouth as he replied with a smile. Seeing this, Greed hurriedly brought him to Suho.

[Little Monarch! Quickly, a potion...!]

"...!" Suho was startled to see his grandfather's condition and took out a healing potion to feed him. But even after drinking it all, Sung Il-Hwan's complexion didn't improve. It was only natural. Even though the statue was destroyed, dozens of Star Pieces were still implanted in his body.

[Kieeeeek!]

"Grandpa! Have another bottle! And this, and this...!" Suho and Beru frantically took out all the mana potions and detoxification potions and poured them into his mouth. But Sung Il-Hwan was simply touched by his grandson's concern. 

"Haha. Calm down. This old man isn't dead yet, so stop fussing." He stretched leisurely, an ominous blue energy still seeping from his body. 

"Greed." Suho glared at his new soldier, who was once Itarim's High Priest, and asked, 

"Tell me everything you know. What's wrong with Grandpa?" 

He must know something, having lived with dozens of Star Pieces in his body just like Sung Il-Hwan. Moreover, with all his memories from his past life restored, Greed knew the most among them.

[Sung Il-Hwan-nim's current condition is...] Greed's expression turned grave as he looked at the Star Pieces embedded in Sung Il-Hwan's body.

Crack - Crack - 

Fine cracks were spreading across his skin, centered around the implanted Star Pieces.

[Star Pieces are objects that cause dimensional rifts and summon the mana of the outer universe. They're similar to miniature gates.] 

"Gates?" Suho's eyes widened. 

"You're saying there are dozens of gates open in my grandfather's body right now?"

"Ahem." ...He said 'my' grandfather. Sung Il-Hwan awkwardly twitched his lips at Suho's words. Although their relationship had been strained for the past few years, it was entirely due to the difference in information they possessed. From Sung Il-Hwan's perspective, knowing that Sung Jinwoo was the Shadow Monarch, he wasn't too worried even when his son suddenly disappeared. But from Suho's perspective, as his son, it was natural to feel resentful towards his grandfather. However seeing Beru beside him, it seemed those misunderstandings had been cleared up without needing a reconciliation. Seeing his grandson fussing over him after a long time wasn't unpleasant. 

"Ahem. Don't worry too much. I know my own body well." 

Sung Il-Hwan suppressed his proud grin and patted Suho's back with a solemn expression. Then, he turned his gaze towards the gate he had emerged from. 

"Suho, let's go inside for now."

"Huh? Into the dungeon?"

"Yes." Finally, Suho's gaze followed Sung Il-Hwan's and landed on the gate.