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The Bearer (3)

The first emotion Kang Shin-hyuk felt at that shocking revelation was sorrow. The last thing Anvil had made was the Godslayer, and what had helped awaken him to his past life was that very same sword. Janus had only wished for one, but he couldn’t get it right until the end due to his lack of ability. As a result, Janus had been able to fight against the gods with a patchy and imperfect sword. He was upset as a blacksmith that he couldn’t properly complete the request.

[Anvil, forgive me for coming out a bit rude.]

Then the light whispered to him.

“Despite all that…?”

[I think I will have to use some unexpectedly rough means in my conversation with you.]

He could feel the light filling the world, increasing in density. Was that what it felt like to focus on his hostility? However, Kang Shin-hyuk noticed that Gaia’s murderous intent was concentrated on Janus.

[There are still things to be said between us, but I think this bad guy will let it be. Rather, they are trying to create unnecessary misunderstandings.]

“The bad guy, that expression is good. Ha!”

As the light bombarded Janus, she absorbed and split it with the sword as she sarcastically responded. A wave of tumbling light also went toward Kang Shin-hyuk, but it was an attack he had already received, so he could see what ability it had.

‘Are you trying to put me to sleep?’

It was infinitely intense, but at the same time, oddly cozy, like just entering it would purify the soul. He would’ve been put to sleep by now if he hadn’t resisted it violently with his Light Mastery.

‘But why?’

Gaia had not aimed for his life even though there were many chances for him to kill Kang Shin-hyuk. If so, was there really a misunderstanding between them? No, but even if there were, Kang Shin-hyuk wouldn’t be able to forgive Gaia until he resolved the matter of Gaia trying to kill Shin Eunah.

“Anvil, Gaia is trying to trick you.”

It was then. Janus’s eyes flashed like a beast as the bombardment of light pouring out was extinguished.

“The reason Gaia acts favorably to you is that there is still something they need to get from you.”

“What to get…”

“Hero Universe.”

A laugh came unbidden from him. Certainly, assuming the story Janus had been telling so far was true, whatever Gaia’s sincerity was, he had to be in a position where he couldn’t reach Kang Shin-hyuk. He felt like he was bludgeoned in the back of the head by so much that he couldn’t figure out what to believe. Gaia tried to silence Kang Shin-hyuk with an endless stream of light, but Janus continued to move.

[Janus! Poor child, I can’t hear your delusions anymore! I am already the administrator of all things; how do you keep misrepresenting my will!]

“Gaia, you were always passed by. Interfering with what you shouldn’t and leaving what shouldn’t be left alone. If you get it into your hands, even a system built for balance will go back to its origin.”

[It’s not so. I’ve watched and learned from the Hero Universe and Jormungand, and the result is you now!]

“That’s worse!”

The battle grew fierce. Janus had gained the ability to cut and kill even gods with the Godslayer, but the scale of power in this space… No, it was Gaia, who could be seen as the very space around them. He hadn’t answered all his questions, but Kang Shin-hyuk decided to do what seemed to be the most rational given current circumstances.

“You said you’re an administrator, Gaia. Unfortunately, I have similar abilities.”

He interfered with the power of the Royal Dragon to weaken the light and strengthen Janus. The change was dramatic as the light shrank away, and Janus’s incineration of the world sped up.

“Anvil!”

[Anvil!]

Their voices echoed at the same time, one with anger and the other with joy.

[It’s embarrassing, Anvil. Did you think my power would be enough to be invaded by you?]

“Ha, as much as you can! The only thing you need to do, Anvil, is take mana from him!”

Janus mocked Gaia as she responded. Something else he couldn’t hear came out, but he ignored it.

‘What else can I do?’

Use Light Mastery to reduce Gaia’s light? No, it took all his ability to resist the light on him. No matter how much he used it, it would be impossible to inflict damage directly on Gaia. If so, what about Dark Mastery? It would be more effective than light…

‘No, let’s see it.’

What he needed to do now was maximize the power of his trait to fight against Gaia; he didn’t need to inflict direct damage himself.

[Anvil, are you serious?]

“Please do it, Halo. No, Gaia.”

[Anvil… I think you’ve spent too much of your mind on this peculiar thing’s bullshit. I’ll help you wake up.!]

Blink.

The light that filled the world vanished for an instant before exploding once more, hitting both Kang Shin-hyuk and Janus. Kang Shin-hyuk used everything he had. Light and Dark Mastery minimized the light’s influence while he resisted the power of the world, pressing on him with his ability to dominate space. At the same time, he strengthened Janus, helping her to rip Gaia’s light apart.

[Anvil!]

“You don’t have time to care about that!”

Even though she was against a god and the entire world, Janus was unstoppable. Kang Shin-hyuk watched her back, sweat dripping down his forehead as the pressure bearing down on him increased as he exerted his abilities.

‘It’s hard.’

It hadn’t been a year since he gained the Royal Dragon ability. However, Gaia had been reigning as the absolute for many years. If he had one advantage, it was that his ability was growing at a remarkably fast pace as he confronted Gaia’s power.

“I’ll get rid of it forever! I won’t let you pretend to be the master of the world anymore!”

[Are you really okay? Can’t you guess what will happen if I disappear? How stupid, how stupid.]

“Nothing will happen.”

[Everything will fall.]

Janus’s attitude remained strong, but Kang Shin-hyuk didn’t feel that Gaia’s words were empty. However, that didn’t mean they could stop now. Gaia had yet to offer any reasons or excuses for trying to kill Shin Eunah. If Gaia was truly confident, wouldn’t it have given priority to explaining over everything else?

‘Then, what should I do…?’

As the control on his abilities loosened, the light burst out again.

-Shaaaaaaa

Thousands of blades made of light formed in the air to rush in, trying to tear Janus apart, but she cut them all down.

“I can’t do it alone, Anvil!”

Then she clicked her tongue and looked back to Kang Shin-hyuk. Suddenly, the distance between them seemed to increase endlessly, but it was questionable from the start whether distance meant anything in the world. Elevation, distance, and proximity were all relative. If you, you could define them yourself. The moment Kang Shin-hyuk recognized it and stepped forward, the gap between them narrowed endlessly. The intense vibration that rocked the space around them seemed to prove that Gaia was greatly surprised by it.

“I’m going to cut down the core at once. With your help, I can find it.”

[It’s impossible.]

Gaia continued to bombard them, but Kang Shin-hyuk instinctively controlled the space to create an opening for Janus as he explored the root of that force. As Janus fought and interfered with Gaia, he forcibly revealed the reality of their enemy. Part of the veil of the world, filled with light, seemed to be lifted, and something faint appeared behind it.

[?!]

“It’s like that.”

He connected the strings with his spiritual power and poured his energy into them. That was the correct usage of his power. Ironically, it wasn’t until he met with a being with more power that he finally realized it. There was no message to inform him of his skill growth, but he didn’t need it anymore.

[Even though I said it was impossible!]

“No, it’s possible!”

Gaia’s words were like his power. By expressing his intent clearly, he reinforced his power and tried to eradicate them, but Kang Shin-hyuk had no intention of missing out on what he had caught onto. Vivid vertical lines were drawn down both his pupils, shining five colors.

“If you’re met by a guest, it’s polite you show your face!”

Countless threads of spiritual power moved out, dyed in five colors. With them, he surpassed the world’s master, Gaia, with the aid of Janus.

[Anvil! You want me…!]

The result… In the middle of the world, a woman with a round halo of light was revealed. Her face looked a little like Janus.

“Die!”

Janus swung her sword without delay. She performed the sword dance that was prepared only for this moment, to kill a god. However, just before the sword cut off her head, another blade interjected.

“Janus, you can’t do this.”

“Huh?!”

A man wearing black armor with a large scythe in hand was now there. Unfortunately, both the armor and the scythe were familiar to Kang Shin-hyuk. The armor was the same as what the demons had worn before, made by him in his previous life. The scythe was made for Loki, another VIP member when Kang Shin-hyuk had been performing a dimensional quest a little while ago.

“…Loki.”

Had it not been for the incredible growth shown by Kang Shin-hyuk, Gaia would’ve never invited people to this space again. However, having been revealed by Kang Shin-hyuk’s ability, and with Janus’s blade sharper than expected, she had to open the space once more.

“Is Anvil there too? Well, I would’ve expected you, Janus. But why I guess you couldn’t afford to re-smelt the Godslayer sword.”

“Loki, get out of here.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. We need some balance now. And, unlike you, I actually like my change.”

Kang Shin-hyuk could sense that Loki purely agreed with and followed Gaia’s will, without any need for coercion or reversal.

“Anvil, I roughly know what happened. But now I’d like you to step back.”

Loki said so with a bitter smile. The situation was happening so fast it felt like he was reading his mind. As Kang Shin-hyuk remained silent, Janus ground her teeth.

“So, how long will you continue this skit, Loki?”

“I said, I like it now. Today’s Hero Universe, Jormungand, Gaia system, the balance is perfect… But if you don’t like it, I’ll free you.”

Loki’s eyes narrowed, and the devastating energy gathering in his scythe showed he was just as strong as Janus.

“I’ll kill you. Go find a new administrator with Mirang or Tsukuyo!”

The scythe was swung. Janus confronted him, but at the same time, Gaia’s light gathered behind her into a huge spear blade. No matter how strong Janus was, it was impossible to deal with two transcendental people at once. Kang Shin-hyuk reached out urgently, but his ability couldn’t prevent it now that Gaia’s light had increased once more.

“Quickly.”

The spear of light struck her in the back, tearing her insides to pieces. She groaned and steadfastly received Loki’s scythe, but it was obvious she would die if it continued.

[Anvil, it’s not too late. You made a momentary mistake. As long as you help punish this child…]

Gaia’s feeling of coercion increased further. It felt uncomfortable how she spoke in the tone of an old man but how the visage of a woman, but on the other hand, it felt oddly divine. Nevertheless, Kang Shin-hyuk had defined her as an enemy without hesitation. He had no need for further calculations.

“Gaia, I’m over talking. Trying to correct what went wrong, saying this or that was bad… It’s something I was tired of when I was a child.”

With that, Kang Shin-hyuk approached Janus’s side. Loki was still aiming for her neck, but his eyes went wide at Kang Shin-hyuk’s unexpected behavior. However, it seemed that he was following Gaia’s will not to harm him. That would be their mistake.

“So how about the majority vote, a majority vote.”

[Majority vote…?]

“Anvil, don’t be funny.”

“Anvil…?”

Due to the many abilities that grew in his battle with Gaia, and by capturing the moment when space opened and Loki appeared, Kang Shin-hyuk was able to try one thing he hadn’t thought of until entering this small world.

“Yeah, let me call all my friends.”

He reached out with one hand and concentrated his power. God Wind, Space Domination, and even Soul Poison all combining to poke a hole through that space. Kang Shin-hyuk combined all of them together and instilled his own trait into it.

[Anvil!]

“No way, are you kidding?”

Gaia tried to stop it, but Janus quickly moved to protect him with the Godslayer. Her power fended off Gaia’s light and drove back Loki.

“Anvil, try it as much as you like…!”

Because of that, she lost her strength and was forced to lean on Kang Shin-hyuk. Thanks to that, she had earned enough time. A door opened to that closed world. The administrator, who was waiting only for that moment, responded right away.

-Dimensional quest has occurred.

-All VIP members of the Hero Universe have declared their participation in the quest.