## C516
—Cale.
His **Dominating Aura** was unusually serious.
—It is coming.
Cale did not ask what was coming.
—Death is coming.
*Ting-lang, ting-lang, ting-lang—!*
The bells in the hands of **Choi Jung Soo** and Team Leader **Sui Khan** shook violently on their own.
*Bam!*
*Click!*
**Heavenly Demon** and **Choi Han**, forgetting they were supposed to maintain their positions, opened the window and the door respectively to look inside. They had realized that the danger was not outside, but was heading into this interior.
“…….”
**Ashifrang** was trembling uncontrollably. He felt no pain in his body. There was no physical suffering. However, he was afraid. He could not look at the sky, the ceiling, or even look up.
Something was coming. And it was terrifying.
“……!”
It was then.
*Meow.*
The group of children averaging 10 years old, who were in a corner of the room in silence; the moment **Hong’s** small, suppressed meow was heard:
“Those guys called gods are always so noisy.”
Cale let out those words with a tone full of annoyance.
“!”
In that instant, Ashifrang felt as if a gust of wind blew by. In reality, there was no physical wind. But something passed by his side.
“……!”
That energy was as fearsome as that of the **God of Death** who was descending. From the rapid passage of that energy, his body felt chills and began to tremble with a delay.
“Ah—”
However, he was able to open his mouth and let out a sound. He raised his head. Before, he couldn't look up, but now he could.
*‘Is there something there?’*
Something invisible was facing the divine energy. He looked around. Seeing the faces of **On**, **Hong**, **Raon**, **Ron**, and **Beacrox**, Ashifrang realized that they were now as relieved as he was. Furthermore, following the direction of their gazes, he understood the reason for this entire situation.
“Mmm.”
**Cale Henituse**. His eyes were firmly closed. From him emanated the energy of a truly terrifying ruler. Probably, if he were the original Ashifrang, he wouldn't have even been able to look at that Cale. However, because he knew Cale was acting this way due to the crying of the little child from the Wolf Tribe, he couldn't look away. Rather, an unknown feeling welled up inside him.
*‘He is human… right?’*
It was a situation where he doubted if he was human. For a single whimper from a kitten child, he stopped concentrating on the ceremony he considered important and acted against the process of a god's descent.
*‘How can he do that?’*
This energy coming down from the sky was vital for the descent of the **God of Death**. Was it alright to block this?
“……!”
However, Ashifrang soon realized he had a stupid thought.
*Step, step.*
In the center of the bedroom where the Great General lay, and beside the three people in triangular formation: **Cale Henituse**, **Sui Khan**, and **Choi Jung Soo**. One person approached that circle.
*‘… Crown Prince Alberu’.*
*Step, step.*
Taking one step at a time, **Alberu Crossman** stood next to them. Seeing him, Ashifrang understood.
*‘Ah’.*
I see.
*‘Over there, things remain the same!’*
Seeing the expressions of Alberu, Sui Khan, and Choi Jung Soo, and noting their rigid bodies and cold sweat, Ashifrang realized that in the center where the ceremony was being performed, the divine energy had not been blocked.
“Ha—”
He was left speechless. It was as if he were seeing the true nature of those people who had allied only to protect his father and the Marine Union.
“…….”
Especially Alberu Crossman, who, although it wasn't necessary, placed himself behind Cale Henituse to fully receive the divine energy and not interfere with the ceremony. Seeing that his gaze was directed solely toward the Great General, Ashifrang couldn't help but close his eyes tightly.
*‘I have a long way to go’.*
It was only an instant, but when a deep epiphany enveloped him:
“Hey—”
Cale Henituse’s voice was heard. His eyes were still closed.
—Cale, a god is definitely different...! Dammit!
Ignoring the words of his **Dominating Aura**, he opened his mouth.
“I’ve already said all the descent incantations!”
After the words announcing the start of the first ceremony, he had already recited all the following incantations. Upon finishing that ceremonial text, the energy of the **God of Death** that covered the entire sky of the Marine Union headed toward the First Island. To be exact, it was heading toward this place.
And there was nothing left to say. Choi Jung Soo said they just had to wait, but...
*‘Why is nothing happening?’*
Cale’s annoyance, after checking the status of his companions (including Hong’s suppressed whimper), rose incessantly.
“Don’t waste time unnecessarily.”
He opened his eyes and stared straight up, past the ceiling, toward the sky.
“Just come.”
Don't be slow.
“Before I break this whole mirror with one blow.”
While Ashifrang was shocked by those blunt words:
*Psh.*
“Heh.”
Team Leader **Sui Khan** and **Choi Jung Soo** let out a laugh. And then.
*Ting-lang, ting-lang, ting-lang—!*
The bells began to ring like crazy. Cale’s body swayed forward for a moment. Alberu, surprised, held him up.
*‘The mirror…!’*
Cale looked down at the Holy Item. Suddenly, the mirror moved. Even now, the mirror was trying to move somewhere. Cale, supported by Alberu, let himself be carried by the movement of the mirror.
—Cale. It is concentrating.
Cale raised both hands. The mirror was held in his hands.
*Ting-lang, ting-lang!*
—It’s pouncing!
Just as his **Dominating Aura** said, Cale felt the energy of the **God of Death** pounce.
*‘The mirror’.*
He could tell the destination was the mirror.
*‘It feels like the sky is falling!’*
Cale finally realized. What a terrible thing would have occurred if the descent ceremony of the **God of Chaos** had been performed correctly.
“Kugh!”
A groan escaped his lips unintentionally. Alberu’s hand, holding Cale’s shoulder, trembled.
*‘Crazy damn god!’*
This guy, the **God of Death**, is really—
*‘Strong!’*
Is this really only a third of his level? Even in this energy, there was no bloodlust or malice toward the enemy. It was simply an energy that existed. And that’s just a temporary descent?
*‘I can’t win!’*
Cale was sure. The **God of Death** in his full state. Cale could never win. Not against the **God of Chaos**, nor the **God of Equilibrium**. I can't win against those beings called gods! He had to feel it clearly.
*Ting-lang, ting-lang!*
He felt like he was going to fall to his knees at any moment before these pouncing energies. It didn't compare to that small being, to that pupil he saw for a moment of the **God of Chaos**. This was a real god. He could feel that death was arriving.
Cale realized that the terms Chaos, Death, and Hope that precede the gods were not simple names. It was the very existence of the god. The god who was always grumbling restlessly was Death.
*Ting-lang, ting-lang!*
Above the Great General’s mansion, a crack appeared in the sky. A split sky. It was a slit so small that one couldn't even look inside. However, the moment a force shot out of 그 crack like a lightning bolt:
[An emergency situation has occurred!]
[Blocking the Marine Union field, chi-chi-chi—]
In that instant, the system paralyzed. An invisible bolt pierced through the roof of the mansion. The mansion did not collapse. That force did not destroy anything. It only moved toward its target.
“Kugh!”
“Mmm!”
*Ting-lang, ting-lang!*
While the groans of Sui Khan and Choi Jung Soo increased amidst the fierce sound of the bells, everyone raised their heads. They felt a giant force descending.
*Ting-lang!*
And when even the sound of the bells stopped.
*Plop.*
“Kugh.”
“…….”
Alberu, Sui Khan, and Choi Jung Soo fell to their knees without realizing it. Sui Khan and Choi Jung Soo worked under the **God of Death**, but facing the divine force directly —even if it was a third of his original body— was something difficult to endure.
“!”
“…….”
However, they kept looking up with the bells still in their hands. To be exact, toward the mirror. And toward Cale, who remained standing holding the mirror.
—Cale.
Cale could still stand. It wasn't thanks to his **Dominating Aura**.
—It seems death is also possible.
Neither was it the words of the **Sky Eating Water**.
—It seems it can be eaten. It’s like a high-proof wine, very concentrated.
The being saying this madness was the **Vitality of the Heart**, the **Glutton Priestess**.
*‘Ha!’*
Cale was speechless at such absurdity.
*Ting!*
At that moment, a message arrived at the mirror.
**<I knew you’d hold out!>**
With those words, Cale let out a sigh.
“Dammit.”
He had no other choice. The moment the invisible bolt touched the mirror, Cale recognized that instant precisely.
*Pa-aaaaat—*
Soon, an immensely bright light spread in all directions from the mirror.
“Ugh!”
“Aggh!”
Everyone closed their eyes. But Cale did not. Strangely, the light did not blind him. Instead, he could see the direction the light emanating from the mirror was heading.
That light was peculiar. It was a color that could not be expressed. It was white, black, red, and blue all at once. Simply, it was a hue that humans could not recognize. That light, which could only be described that way, headed toward the Great General’s head.
“!”
And in an instant, it permeated and disappeared.
“?”
And everything went silent. Cale withdrew his **Dominating Aura**. It was no longer necessary. Silence filled the bedroom. Hong, who was in Ron’s arms, tilted his head and Raon crept up to Cale’s side.
“…….”
Cale looked down at the Great General, who still had his eyes closed. It was then.
“… Was it successful?”
Cale could hear the shaky voice of Alberu, who had approached his side.
“And my father?!”
Ashifrang also rushed over.
“…….”
However, the Great General’s body was too silent. There was no change. Cale looked at Ashifrang and Alberu successively.
**<King Zed’s soul? Don’t worry. I can fix it well.>**
He would take King Zed’s soul out of the prison. The **God of Death** assured it, and Alberu and Cale believed in it.
“…….”
But the Great General was silent, and Cale turned his gaze toward Choi Jung Soo.
“I’ll check.”
Choi Jung Soo approached the Great General. It was to check his condition. While Choi Jung Soo reached out his hand and observed:
“!”
Cale’s eyes widened. Suddenly, the Great General opened his eyes wide.
“Human, he opened his eyes!”
While Raon shouted in surprise, Cale crossed gazes with the Great General. The Great General’s mouth opened. Had the descent succeeded? As tension rose:
*Smile.*
The Great General smiled. It was a smile he had seen somewhere.
“My descent,”
Ah. It’s the **God of Death**. That cheeky corner of the lips, only the **God of Death** would make that expression. Just as Cale was about to feel relieved, the Great General continued speaking.
“My descent, completedooo, ugh!—”
*Ugh? (Sound of nausea)*
“Uueeeeegh—”
The Great General, who was about to say with a joyful face that the descent was complete, his body jerked and he began to vomit.
“Dammit! Uuegh— let me, look, a little, good, uueeeegh—”
Cale’s mouth dropped open. The Great General vomiting. No, the **God of Death**. Something was coming out of that mouth.
“Ha—”
Alberu Crossman’s exhausted sigh was heard.
“I’m going to go crazy.”
The Crown Prince’s voice sounded weak for some reason.
*Uueeg-!*
Something was coming out of the vomiting Great General’s mouth.
“… Royal father.”
It was a translucent form of King Zed. The king, who seemed to have fainted and was limp, was being vomited out by the Great General’s mouth. … It was definitely King Zed.
“This is insane.”
… Although that appearance was like a jelly in the shape of a cute doll.
*Plop.*
The translucent King Zed, looking like a cute doll and with the texture of jelly, was the length of Cale’s forearm.
“Phew, what a relief.”
The Great General, no, the **God of Death**, picked up the doll-like King Zed with both hands.
“Tada! I saved him!”
The **Elder**, the **God of Death**, showed a grin from ear to ear. Cale muttered without realizing it:
“… I’m going to go crazy.”
“… I’m going to go crazy.”
He turned his head. He crossed gazes with Alberu, who had let out the same words at the same time. Cale and Crown Prince Alberu looked at each other in silence for a moment.
---
‘Raising My Precious Absolute God’.
The virtual reality world *New World*.
Specifically, the sudden error occurring in the Marine Union. Because of it, the inhabitants and users of *New World* were agitated. Interest in the unknown event occurring on the First Island, where the unconscious Great General remained, began to increase explosively.
—…Something so serious that the system considers it an error?
“Yes. **Second Emperor**.”
In that situation, the **Second Emperor** reacted. In his hand, he held the letter sent by the **Third Emperor’s** first sworn brother, Wo-ho.
