Chapter 137

The air grew heavy.

As I struck him down, thinking he wouldn’t rise again, the moment he stood up, the air felt as if it was suffocating. It wasn’t just the air; his presence on the spot was equally overwhelming.

Unlike before, when he would babble about changing reality and summoning gods, confusing my mind with nonsense, now his mouth barely moved, firmly shut in its original form.

“…”

Without saying a word, he glanced at me, then scanned the surroundings emotionlessly.

“Ugh…”

He let out a soft sigh and began examining himself thoroughly.

His dry eyes, seemingly observing a third person’s body for the first time, scanned every inch of him.

“A human male’s body… Not something I’d be particularly fond of, but… Well, there’s no choice.”

Sighing in resignation, Dominus—or whatever was wearing his appearance—let out a faint breath, signaling the end of his self-examination.

The moment I saw his attitude, as if seeing this place and his own body for the first time, the worst possible scenario flashed through my mind.

Dominus’ physical form, which had regenerated after injury, and his mention of welcoming a deity into his body. His indifferent demeanor after rising from defeat.

“…Haa…”

Even as he let out a faint sigh, his expression remained unchanged, creating an eerie atmosphere that stirred fear within me.

My thoughts concluded that one thing: something had taken root in Dominus’ body.

“Correct.”

A calm voice, as if reading my thoughts, struck my ear, startling me.

How could he know what I hadn’t even voiced and respond so quickly?

“Of course not. Child of man. Even if it seems absurd for someone like me to appear in this space using a human male’s body, it’s even more absurd to think that a mere child like you couldn’t read such simple thoughts.”

This enigmatic being, calling itself Dominus while emphasizing its difference from him, posed a riddle, suggesting that the original owner of this body had long gone.

“Oh, the host is merely resting. Human child, your remarkable skill in subduing him is the reason. Normally, this shouldn’t be visible, but due to your complete annihilation of his consciousness, the divine consciousness of the deity has been revealed in this manner.”

Though I didn’t want to hear it, his explanation poured out, making me feel uneasy.

But as his words continued, the oppressive aura emanating from his attitude, treating this twisted space as his own, intensified.

“…”

“…”

Aslin and Wu-Gol, who had been cheering me on behind, noticed something amiss in Dominus’ stance and ceased their encouragement, focusing on his transformation.

Despite his clear voice indicating his identity, it didn’t reach the two behind me, likely due to some measure taken in this space.

In this place where miracles were common, what should I do now?

Trying to cool my chaotic mind, I thought through various possibilities, but the conclusion seemed obvious.

…I need to end this before the god awakens fully through Dominus’ body.

“Kwak!”

With that decision in mind, I tightened my grip on the sword, accelerating the circulation of hostility in my heart and dantian.

Though my body was weary from the intense fighting and the tainted energy of this place, I decided to unleash all my strength without delay, aiming to topple him.

My hostility surged beyond the capacity of my body, causing a rumbling sound that made the already heavy air even heavier.

Though there was a risk of my body being utterly destroyed by the uncontrolled hostility, I took the chance, unwilling to ignore the imminent danger.

“Andy!!”

“Ahhh!!”

Aslin and Wu-Gol, understanding my intention immediately, let out screams as if in shock.

They seemed ready to rush forward and stop me, but their voices halted abruptly.

“…What?”

“…My body?!”

For some reason, both of them were frozen in place, unable to move.

It seemed the divine presence within Dominus had immobilized them somehow.

“Even if the outcome is clear, I don’t want any interruptions.”

His nonchalant tone, calmly mentioning his actions, confirmed their paralysis.

His dismissive attitude towards us, coupled with the dangerous aura he exuded, made me question his intentions.

Was he trying to control the rampant hostility to explode, or was he simply curious about preventing someone from interfering?

“…Ah, well. Seems like he wanted to try something on me.”

Given the confusion and chaos, the curiosity behind his cheap gesture became evident.

The frustration of not knowing what kind of divine power this being possessed was turning into a mild anger.

Though it was not ideal for controlling hostility, my body managed to stabilize the overwhelming force.

“It seems the excess power is finally under control.”

The enigmatic presence, speaking in Dominus’ voice, commented indifferently.

Unlike the chaotic tone from before, his voice was calm and steady.

“I must fulfill the wish of the one who summoned me through this body. Come.”

As he gestured for me to approach, the intensity of his desire was palpable, even in his composed expression.

This was not easy. My mind was filled with doubt.

Could I truly stand against this unknown divine entity with my current abilities?

The situation was already dire, but…

“Well, it seems I have no choice but to face this. There’s no need to force it.”

Given the gravity of the situation, retreating was not an option.

“Phew…”

Taking a deep breath, I charged forward, determined to fulfill my purpose.

“Boom!”

Just a step forward, and the sound of a battering ram echoed in my ears, while the sword resonated beautifully with my hostility.

The perfect strike, born from my optimal condition, was as flawless as ever.

The overwhelming power was almost tangible, and I felt certain I could pierce through.

Seeing him frozen despite the powerful attack only reinforced my conviction.

“Ugh…”

Even after witnessing my full-strength blow, he remained unperturbed, casually blocking my sword with a finger.

Dominus’ sword couldn’t penetrate this invisible barrier, and I lost the will to push further.

“Crack…”

Despite my renewed efforts, he effortlessly countered, pushing me back with a simple gesture.

Thrown to the ground, I barely managed to recover with a roll, avoiding serious injury.

My body, however, felt the mental shock of being blocked by just a finger.

“…”

Unable to move, the realization that I couldn’t even perform the basic act of standing up left me paralyzed.

Even a simple exchange of blows felt like facing a mountain that could crush me.

“…”

The enigmatic presence, despite his intimidating demeanor, offered a compliment.

“You needn’t be shocked, child of man. Even if you faced my divine power head-on, standing firm proves your worth as a warrior.”

Yet, his next words revealed his true intent.

“…It’s a shame. Now that you’re here, I must erase you to fulfill the wish of the one who brought me here.”

His threat was implicit, his resolve evident.

“Andy…”

“…Master! Run!”

Their desperate cries reached my ears, but it was too late.

“…”

Dominus, in his indifferent tone, silenced them with a flick of his finger.

“…”

Their mouths opened, but no sound emerged.

“Now it’s quiet.”

Satisfied, he turned his attention back to me.

“Let’s finish this.”

With a confident nod, he approached, his steps echoing heavily in the air.

“Whoosh…”

His sword cut through the air, its sound drowning out the heavy footsteps.

“…Die for me, child of man.”

Seeing his unemotional declaration, a single thought filled my mind.

This was inevitable.

Driven by the desire to save Aslin and prevent this divine possession, I had come this far.

Now, with Aslin safe but Dominus still a threat, I faced my fate.

Paralyzed by his presence, I forced myself to move.

His steps, which never faltered, finally stopped.

“Still able to move?”

His voice, devoid of emotion, carried a clear sense of curiosity and admiration.

“Hmm… Despite my despair, such determination is impressive.”

Raising his hand to his chin, he paused, as if granting a reprieve.

Before thinking, my body acted on instinct.

That was the best response to the arrogant opponent who believed victory was near.

Even as I swung my sword, I didn’t expect it to work.

All I wanted was to show this transcendent entity that I wouldn’t give in.

But that resolve and desperation granted me unseen strength.

“Slice!”

My sword grazed Dominus’ borrowed body, leaving a faint mark.

“Wh-What?”

Startled, his mouth opened in surprise.

The relief of achieving something, even a small victory, brought a smile to my face.

But before I could revel in it, my sword continued its trajectory, aimed at him.

“Stop!”

Had his command not interrupted the laws of physics, I might have left another mark on him.

But the battle continued, each move fraught with danger and uncertainty.