Marvin Rodogus drew in a breath.
"Troublesome."
Even for him, the reinforced 91st floor was a first.
He had expected some changes, but he hadn't anticipated the patterns would shift this much.
Thanks to that, it had taken longer than expected.
Kuuung…!!
But the predetermined outcome hadn't changed.
Marvin, having taken down the last monster, turned to look behind him.
The divine legion stood arrayed with their hands clasped together.
Every soldier, including Marvin, was under the blessing and grace of God.
No matter how tricky the patterns were, there was no way they would fall.
"Disgusting."
He flicked his robe, shaking off the blood splattered on it.
Regardless of carrying out God's will, it was still unpleasant.
Having the remnants of such lowly beings cling to him.
He turned his head and stared at the spot where Jinhyuk stood.
"He's gone again."
He furrowed his brow.
It had been like this even during the battle.
Jinhyuk's presence had vanished as if erased from space itself.
At the time, he hadn't paid it much mind, but now that the fight was over, a question mark formed in his mind.
What method was he using to hide his presence?
And why was he hiding?
What was he trying to conceal?
—Watch closely.
God had said this before the expedition.
Find out how a mere human had captured Azriel, the brilliant light of tyranny that even they couldn't handle.
He recalled the memory from earlier.
—The great sins of gluttony and sloth, born from darkness.
A name that should have been forgotten from everyone's memory had come out of a human's mouth.
How did he know that name?
Where had he heard it?
From whom?
A chain of doubts linked together, and he let out a low breath.
"Could it be… he found it?"
It was an impossible hypothesis, but then again, a human capturing Azriel was itself impossible.
Since the impossible had already happened, he had to thoroughly examine every possibility.
"He said to watch, but God sees that human as just one of many vessels."
Even if he presented this possibility, God would likely dismiss it as trivial.
He needed to obtain concrete evidence that would make God pay attention.
Just in case, even if the odds were one in ten thousand, he couldn't let himself be caught off guard by a stray thorn.
"I'll first confirm what he's been hiding and what he's been up to."
If there was something, traces would remain in some form.
He was an entity with an exceptional ability to find such things.
That was also why God had sent him as the first collaborator and observer.
Step.
He turned his body and took his first step toward Jinhyuk.
At that moment.
Sweeooooong!!
Something flying at tremendous speed struck the legion.
A flash, followed by an explosion.
A terrifying force that shook the entire space.
Marvin, barely lifting his head, gritted his teeth.
"How dare this insignificant thing…!"
Rage surged, but at the same time, he was disappointed.
So he had been quietly preparing something, and this was all he came up with? A cheap backstab?
And he couldn't even figure out that it wouldn't work.
He felt ashamed of himself for having worried about such a fool just moments ago.
He looked back at the legion that had taken the explosion.
The barrier had taken considerable damage, but everyone was safe.
In other words, his prepared trump card hadn't worked…?
Marvin's eyes widened.
Given the sheer power, he had naturally assumed it was a single shot.
But it wasn't.
Staggering.
Dozens of projectiles filled his vision, and Marvin stepped back.
Do as you please.
The relentless bombardment covered the army.
Continuous explosions that pounded his eardrums and relentless shaking that wouldn't even allow him to stand.
It was impossible to grasp the situation or tend to the army.
In that moment, there was only one thing Marvin Rodogus could do.
Desperately wrap himself in a barrier to survive.
* * *
"Puhehehehehehehehe!!!"
A maniacal laugh mixed with the sound of a grenade launcher firing.
Gulp!
Jinhyuk and his friends lined up behind him, swallowing dry saliva in unison.
Even as they watched with their own eyes, they couldn't believe the firepower.
'So that's why they call him a firepower fanatic.'
He recalled the firearms expert uncle from Zzuyou.
A meeting of a firepower fanatic and an explosion fanatic.
A dangerous combination.
Anyway, he should film this scene later and show it to him.
He would definitely be happy.
"Master."
"Huh?"
"Don't you think you gave Satan a weapon that's too dangerous? My star workshop would be reduced to ashes with just one shot of that thing."
"He probably won't fire it, right?"
Elia looked at him.
"What's with that tone of uncertainty?"
"It's Kancho."
"Hmm. That's a very valid point. I guess I need to develop a weapon for the Great Satan too."
She wasn't thinking about avoiding a fight; she was still planning to join in on the beating. As expected, she was no pushover either.
Click! Click!
"Huh!?"
Kancho, who had been firing enthusiastically, perked up his ears.
"Private Momo, what are you doing!? Why aren't you reloading the belt quickly!?"
"I'm out of ammo!"
"Already!?"
Kancho jumped up and looked at Jinhyuk.
His eyes pleaded for him to put away the grenade launcher and hand over the heavy machine gun.
Jinhyuk raised his head and looked at the spot where Marvin and the legion had been.
'Devastated' was an understatement.
It wasn't just destroyed; the terrain itself had been altered.
"That's enough for today."
"Phew. That's enough, sir."
Kancho perked up his ears and wore an extremely refreshed expression.
"I feel so relieved. It's like drinking Fanta. Private Second Class Momo, you worked hard too."
"Why am I a private second class!?"
"Momo-dari. Which is bigger, first or second?"
"Second is bigger!"
"That's right, sir. Second class is better."
"Did I get promoted!?"
"That's right, sir."
"Awesome! Next time, I'll be Private Third Class Momo!"
Kancho smoothly deceived her, and Momo, unaware, beamed with a bright smile.
Well, as long as they're both happy, it's fine.
He walked toward where Marvin and the legion had been.
It was a blazing inferno, so nothing was immediately visible.
"Dark, can you put out the fire?"
"Sure."
Having learned the unique trait Frost Resonance, Dark could now summon ice without needing the Eternal Chill.
With a light snap of his fingers, an ice path formed in the direction they were heading.
The flames died down instantly, replaced by an immense cold.
Brrr, brrr, brrr.
"Brrr, what is this, sir!? This is for people who are on their last legs! This is unusable!"
"We don't have thick fluffy fur like you."
"It's because I'm a lazy brrr-type! I'll crawl forward to warm myself up! Execute!"
At the utterly nonsensical order to crawl, Elia and Kamela frowned.
Dark snapped his fingers again, retracting the ice.
The fire was extinguished, the cold disappeared, and the temperature became just right.
By the way, what was a brrr-type? Was it a real species? He'd have to look it up later.
"Whew. It's completely reduced to ashes, huh?"
Traces of what had been the divine legion remained here and there.
Given such a horrific explosion, it was a miracle any traces were left at all.
Following the faint presence, he continued walking.
"Kkeu… kkeueu…"
Marvin Rodogus was desperately crawling on the ground, trying to get away from them.
He had survived, but only half his body remained.
Jinhyuk leisurely overtook him and blocked his path.
"!!!"
His appearance was quite the opposite of his epithet, "A Gentle Smile Amidst a Downpour of Light."
Unlike before, much of that air of superiority was gone.
Marvin looked at those standing beyond Jinhyuk with trembling eyes.
'Th-this…'
Each and every one of them exuded overwhelming power.
Even while seeing them directly, he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed their presence in the same space.
What kind of trick had they pulled?
"Do you think… God will forgive you… for doing something like this?"
"He shouldn't forgive me. I did it hoping he wouldn't. Who's next? Since you're gone, someone else will come, right? I plan to keep erasing them until those so-called gods show up."
"Keuk… Don't be so… arrogant. You don't know… what kind of beings our gods are. No matter how much you struggle… you will never reach… our essence."
"That rotten thing hidden in the light? Want to give it a try?"
[Light Devourer]
The pitch-black fangs that burst from his hand devoured Marvin.
The light surrounding him extinguished all at once.
"Kireek… Krrrk!"
Marvin Rodogus's true form was revealed.
'Undead…?'
His refined, intellectual appearance was completely gone.
All that remained were twisted, contorted, hideous bones and flesh.
"Kireek…? What did you… do to me!!!!"
Marvin shouted harshly.
He was more enraged about being forced to reveal his true form than about being ambushed.
He must really hate his real appearance.
After roaring for a while, surprise filled Marvin's eyes.
The ability that had just taken away his light.
It was because of this ability.
That was why God had tried to destroy the great sins of gluttony and sloth, born from darkness, by any means necessary.
'N-no, could it be…'
Step.
He turned his head at the small sound of footsteps.
"!!!!!!!"
His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open.
The being looking down at him with half-closed eyes.
It was the great sin he thought had been erased forever.
Trembling seized Marvin's body.
'Ah, I have to report this.'
He had only thought of him as a convenient vessel for God to use.
At most, he had considered him a slightly annoying thorn.
But that wasn't it.
The being before him was a spear.
A spear of Longinus that might even pierce and kill God.
"Y-you… are you trying to commit… the sin of deicide?"
"Deicide? Was that a sin? If it is, then I'm already a sinner. And, as always…"
Jinhyuk trailed off and brought his face close to Marvin.
"The first time is hard, but the second time is easy."
As Marvin's breath grew shallow, Jinhyuk smiled.
"You worked hard clearing the tower. Thanks to you, it was easy."
With a wave of regret and despair washing over him.
Marvin Rodogus's breath ceased.
Ding!
[You have cleared the reinforced 91st floor of the Tower of Despair!]
[Clear rank achieved: SSS+!]
[The achievement gauge is full! A special reward is granted!]
'Ooh.'
His eyes sparkled at the spinning roulette.
The achievement gauge, which had been over two-thirds full even after granting the special reward for defeating Azriel.
Thanks to that, he had earned another special reward in just one floor.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
Truly, the generous Azriel!
Even after being destroyed, he still showed his presence like this.
Ding!
[You have acquired the Epic-grade item, 'Space Extractor'!]
'Huh?'
He furrowed his brow.
Something ambiguous had come out.
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T/N:
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