On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 259: #A Master and Disciple’s Forbidden XX (3)

Crack, craaack!

More strength went into the tentacles that bound me.

Ugh. Isn’t this God of Destroyer’s power?

The malevolent power was immense. Though I was still far from the power I held in my past life, I thought I had become relatively stronger, yet I couldn’t even budge!

Riiiip!

Hwang Bosheng’s mouth spread open like a flower in full bloom, raising a menacing scream.

-Kieeek! It’s useless to struggle! This is the power bestowed upon me by the Great Being to protect the Emperor!

His tentacles and appearance had twisted so far, he no longer resembled a human being.

“Eeek! Let me go!”

More tentacles shot out to subdue me, wrapping me like a cocoon.

Shrnnnng!

Hwang Bosheng drew the sword at his waist.

-For the sake of His Majesty the Emperor of the Eunju Empire! Offer up the life of that traitor!

Tzzz!

Dripping with dark, evil power like sewage water, the sword flew toward my unyielding neck.

Tssss! Kwaaaa!

At my most desperate moment, white smoke rose from me like steam coming out from a train.

Il-Ho!

I thought of my follower and hero, the muscular man. I couldn’t share his ultimate skill, Super Strong Body, because he hadn’t climbed the Tower of Warriors in this life. Nevertheless, I had used that skill countless times in my previous life.

So, I forcibly recreated it with the divine power and the martial arts I’d learned here, using Yang Il-Shin's 150 kilograms body!

Craaack!

His excess fat burned like an active volcano, reconstructing itself into muscles that compressed at a terrifying speed. I let out a deafening roar as if Il-Ho was with me, unleashing the power that surged through me all at once.

“Muuuuuuscles!”

With a flash, I blocked his sword with my teeth and obliterated all the tentacles.

Baaaam!

Hwang Bosheng coughed up blood. His eyes shifted from the gaping hole in his body to my muscular, gold-glowing form. He struggled to open his mouth.

-W-what tremendous...divine power...

Baaaang!

Hwang Bosheng helplessly crashed to the ground and into one of the palace quarters. I felt sad for him, but I quickly regained my senses.

Oh! Elder!

If all of this was a trap, then Demon Lord would be in danger as well. I landed back at the palace and hurried toward our quarters.

Tsss!

A bizarre sound rang in the air, and the splendid palace buildings rippled like a mirage haze.

“How dare you harm General Hwang!”

“Stop the traitor!”

The guards patrolling the palace and the female attendants began gunning for me, their faces contorting like demons.

-Ehehehe!

-Kyaaaak!

They looked no different from the transformed Hwang Bosheng.

Swish, swish!

Tentacles and spears shot toward me from all directions, clashing into my iron-hard form.

Claaaang!

Ferocious sparks flew all over.

Keugh!

They were no longer humans. Steeling my resolve, I clenched my teeth and swung my fist.

“Everyone, move!”

I flexed the Super Strong Body muscles, crushing everyone who stood in my path with my fists.

“Elder! Are you alright?” I burst through the door.

However, someone else arrived before I did. It was Emperor Zhu Alin, clad in white cotton pajamas.

“Junior, did you have a pleasant evening stroll?” she asked, staring at me, who was covered in black blood.

She gently rested a red fingertip on Demon Lord’s lips. “Junior, I’m sorry, but Master and I are occupied right now, so could you leave us be?”

I bit down hard on my lips. And here I thought I still had time. Moreover, despite the commotion, Demon Lord didn’t stir. Did she cast a spell on him?

“Stay away from him!”

I pointed my fist at them, ready to kill.

Yet, she only looked at me with amusement, smirking. “Fufu, Junior. Did you think I’m going to do something to our Master? You misunderstand. I’m probably the only one who loves him the most in this world. Oh, rather...”

Sss—

Zhu Alin tugged at the hem of her cotton robes, releasing the knot. I didn’t know whether I should turn my gaze away from her jade-like skin.

“As you can see, it was Master who did something to me.”

I felt myself suffocating. On her chest was a hole the size of an adult's fist. It was empty.

“I’m willing to give him anything he asks of me. Hence, when he asked for my life, I gladly offered up my heart.”

I recalled Demon Lord’s past. He did rip out the heart of his beloved disciple and daughter in order to save the world.

“Did you see what happened after?” Zhu Alin asked.

I couldn’t give her an answer. Even though he’d made sacrifices, the fate of destruction couldn’t be averted. His world would be destroyed, and he’d be reduced to a mere sword, wandering across worlds like a revenant.

Tears glistened in her eyes, more beautiful than the string of pearls around her neck. They fell onto Demon Lord’s cheeks.

“If I knew that would happen, I wouldn't have yielded... Even if I had to force him...”

Something still felt off. There was a strong sense of incongruity in her words. She seemed to know what would happen in the near future.

“Fufu, Junior. Did you think you're the only one who retained memories from your past life?”

My heart sank.

“W-what do you...? Do you still have memories from your past life too?”

I thought this was a trial from the Tower of Gods that’d allow me to alter the tragic fate from the past by regressing?

Instead of replying, Zhu Alin pointed her slender finger at me.

“Junior, I’m of a lowly birth. I didn’t receive much teaching from our Master. I’ve barely mastered the first three self-defense techniques he tailored for me, let alone his unique Divine Technique set.”

Tzzzz!

Then, the weird sound returned, and our surroundings wavered like a mirage once more.

“But, will you be able to stop this?” Zhu Alin’s lips began to curl up like Joker’s. “Demon Lord’s Dark Love Palm.”

A flesh-crushing chill ran through me. This dark, murky sensation, as if I was in the deep end, where no light could reach, without any hope, just pure despair... I instantly recalled the time I encountered Despair at the fan sign event in my previous life!

Kwaaaa!

Zhu Alin’s Dark Love Palm washed over me like ink spilled on canvas.

“Ugh!”

I shielded myself with muscular arms that glowed gold while the heavens and earth roared from the impact. I could feel the world turn around as if I were put on a roller coaster.

Whiiiir!

Along with remnants of the ruined palace, I flew across the night sky, barely holding my consciousness together.

I coughed up a gurgling stream of blood as I felt my internal organs get crushed.

“It’s still early, Junior.” Zhu Alin’s voice echoed merrily from above, as tender as an older sister looking after her younger brother. She cradled Demon Lord in her arms while levitating mid-air.

Like Goddess Chang’E from the moon, Zhu Alin put a foot on my chest. “Demon Lord’s Desire Executing Foot.”

Although Zhu Alin’s weight was barely a quarter of mine, the force of a few hundred tons was crushing me from above.

“Aaargh!”

Ruuuumble! Baaaam!

As if an enraged god had brought upon a calamity, the ground I crashed into collapsed beneath me, destroying everything in me.

-Junior, have you not learned enough from me?

Her voice rang in my mind as if I was plunged into an abyss of unimaginable depth.

I coughed up more blood as I struggled to lift my ring finger.

“Keugh... Healing Ring Finger of God...”

Tsss!

The pure white light, representing the miracle of healing, seeped into my battered self.

Ding!

[Healing effectiveness reduced due to the effects of God of Destroyer’s power!]

Sure enough, the recovery slowed down and my wounds were only partially healed.

But I can still fight...!

Even if my bones were broken and some organs severely damaged, I was still reinforced by Il-Ho’s skill! Thanks to his indomitable will, I could still move. Bending at the knees, my quadriceps swelled until they nearly burst.

“Haaaa!”

Bang!

I shot out of the pit like a rocket. Beneath me, the palace was in ruins, a shadow of its former glory. Meanwhile, slumped on the throne was Demon Lord, still fast asleep.

Zhu Alin sat on the ground, resting her head on his lap while staring at me pridefully.

“What a strong body you have. No wonder he took you as his disciple.”

Tzzz!

That same sound echoed once more.

Zhu Alin parted her flaming red lips. “Junior, curious how I exist in this timeline with memories of my past life? The answer is the causality of the great and wicked God of Destroyer! After all, the scales of harmony and balance must always be fair. I was originally the antagonist who’d end your life as you attempt to alter fate. Still, since we share the same teacher, I’ll allow you this one chance.”

Riiiip!

With a wave of her hand, the space around me ripped apart, revealing an entrance.”

“Leave our world. All I need is Master. I don’t wish to kill you.”

Tzzz!

The ear-piercing sound rang once more.

Ding!

[The innate power Blind Eyes of God is attempting to see the truth.]

I focused my divine power on the skill

Tzz!

As if I was trying to forcefully tune in the frequency of a broken radio, the world revealed itself in all its misery. Bodies of hundreds of thousands of soldiers were scattered everywhere. Apparently, the cult leader wasn’t lying—there was indeed a rebellion.

I gritted my teeth at the pitiful sight, then asked her, “And if I leave... what will happen to Demon Lord and this world?”

“They would be destroyed as per their original fate.” Zhu Alin buried her face in Demon Lord’s arms, her eyes filled with longing. “But, this time, I’ll be with him. I’ll never let go again.”

I clenched my fist tight. There was no way I could leave with ease after hearing that.

“And if I refuse?”

Her face twitched. “Then you will face the same fate as all of them did—for standing in my way!”

The dark aura she exuded enveloped the world.

-Grrrr!

-Grrrr!

Ghostly wails rang from all directions, and the dead soldiers rose from the ground. They, who’d rebelled while they were alive, surrounded me with spears drawn, as if pledging their royalty to the emperor.

“Ahahaha! Kill him! Kill all of those who try to stand between me and my Masteeer!”

With a face contorted by madness and obsession, Zhu Alin raised her hand, commanding the dead.

In the next moment, Demon Lord, who should’ve been asleep, caught her hand.

“Stop it, Lin.”

“Mas...ter?”

With tears in his eyes, Demon Lord grimaced. “Please.”