Nekiel rested his chin on his hand, staring straight ahead.
Before him lay a world—a sanctuary.
A sanctuary built from nothing by his own hands, for himself alone.
He shifted his gaze, admiring the endless marble steps, the pillars soaring toward the sky, and the walls encircling the entire domain.
An impregnable space that nothing outside of Lument could ever approach or enter.
A satisfied smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
'Beautiful.'
How could he not be in awe?
Every single pillar, every step, every pattern carved into them, even the breath of the believers living here—all of it was his creation.
'Mine.'
The place he had chosen.
The believers he had selected.
The energy he had raised.
All of these had come together to birth this sanctuary. The sanctuary was him, and he was the sanctuary—the creator.
"Hmm."
He leaned back into his chair and let out a low hum.
He had sent the great sins of Sloth and Gluttony to another dimension, and the violent light of Azriel had met its end.
Nothing in this place could threaten him anymore.
And yet, why?
The thirst remained unquenched.
'It's not enough.'
The power he had endlessly cultivated was now overflowing, more than enough to fill the sanctuary.
With such immense strength, how could he be satisfied in a confined space like this?
He had to step out into a wider world.
Soon, the dream he had prepared for so long would come true.
"My god."
The apostles knelt before him.
"A prayer has reached us from the messenger beyond. The ritual will begin soon."
"Is that so."
Nekiel wore a strange smile.
Things were progressing much faster than planned.
Whatever form it took, it meant something had gone wrong with Min So-yul's plan.
'A pitiful, wretched being.'
He had already noticed during their last communion that Min So-yul was lying.
Yet he had not punished her.
And he had no intention of casting her out now.
No matter how perfect a god, adapting to a new world would require adjustment.
Until then, he would make good use of her as a guide.
"Radiana is late."
"She will return soon, having achieved a great victory."
"She had better. Radiana is also my great vanguard."
"We will go ahead and pave the path for you to walk, my god."
"Excellent."
Nekiel chuckled and nodded.
Whatever Min So-yul's plan might be, Nekiel had no intention of descending today.
He would send the apostles first.
Why?
Because he had already experienced it firsthand, and he had no desire to experience it again.
The experience of facing something harsh in a new world and being brought to his knees.
As long as he existed within the sanctuary, he was invincible.
Leaving this place could wait until everything was thoroughly confirmed.
—In my world, nothing can reach you, my god.
The messenger beyond, Min So-yul, had been certain.
Even those said to be the strongest in that world were not free from the leash of the synchronization rate system.
She had said that while they might soar in the Tower of Despair, they were nothing in that world.
'I truly cannot wait.'
A new world free of the Celestial Capital, the great sins of Gluttony and Sloth, the violent light of Azriel, and any other threats.
He could already vividly picture himself taking that world into his hands and ruling it.
Crack.
"…?"
He tilted his head at a strange sensation.
A dissonance he had never felt before.
Crackle.
He wasn't imagining it.
Nekiel rose from his throne and looked up at the sky.
Nothing was visible yet.
But because this was his creation, he could tell.
The sanctuary was cracking.
"My god?"
"What is the matter?"
The apostles, still kneeling, looked up at Nekiel.
"…Impossible."
Whether they spoke or not, Nekiel muttered to himself.
And not long after.
Crackle!
A small fissure appeared in the sky of the sanctuary.
Like a shattered window, the crack spread, growing larger and larger.
The apostles, having spotted the crack, also rose from their positions and stared blankly at the sky.
Crrrrack!
A dark red aura of unknown origin seeped through the crack.
Whatever it was, one thing was certain.
That aura was accelerating the crack's expansion.
"I will go."
One of the apostles, Grud, spread his wings and channeled his power.
A crack in the sanctuary where the god resided? That couldn't be allowed—?!
Just as he was about to push off the ground, Grud stopped mid-flap.
Dozens of hands were squeezing through the crack.
It was impossible not to recognize that distinctive blue hue.
The color of the beings that had appeared endlessly in a horrific nightmare.
Kwa-gagagak!!
Following the hands, dozens of faces pushed through the crack.
And not long after.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!!
They began to pour down like a torrential downpour.
The nightmare of Lument, which they had believed they would never encounter again.
"Hah."
Apostle Grud let out a small gasp.
In the face of this surreal and horrifying spectacle, it was the best he could manage.
But Nekiel was different.
He struck the ground with the radiant light gathered in his hand.
In response to the light, the pillars and walls of the sanctuary wrapped themselves in a thick protective aura.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!
The knights that had rained down upon it stabbed their weapons wildly.
"Foolish wretches. Did you think we would remain still forever?"
He was considerably surprised by the return of that nightmare.
But there was no need to rush or panic.
He had prepared defenses to protect the sanctuary even in a situation like this.
"Swing all you want, like you did on that day long ago. You can never reach us—?"
Something moved in Nekiel's field of vision.
Something was lurking near the edge of the crack in the sky.
Peek.
Someone poked their head out.
Crunch!
The veins bulged in Nekiel's eyes.
It was undeniable that the beings born from the seeds were the natural enemies of Lument.
But they lacked the intelligence or ability to find this sanctuary and forge a path.
Which meant—
It was him.
The one who had led them to the sanctuary.
As if aware that their eyes had met, Jin-hyeok, who had been looking around, waved his hand.
"So you're the one, huh. The god that cult and that crazy woman worship."
"You…."
He knew from that single word.
It was him.
The human from the world beyond that Min So-yul had said she would present as his vessel.
'Min So-yul, you foolish worm…! I'll tear you apart the moment I get out.'
An unbearable rage surged within him.
Had she hidden such an absurd variable just for her own safety?
Jin-hyeok, who had been examining Nekiel, spoke.
"You look more at ease than I expected. That bothers me. Is it cozy in there or something?"
"Bark all you want. I'll personally come and tear that arrogant mouth of yours apart."
"Woof."
Grrrrrrrrrr!!!
Nekiel's face twisted, then crumpled in terrible fury.
Jin-hyeok ignored him and continued.
"Those knights pouring down right now are familiar faces, aren't they? So I thought I'd introduce you to another friend you might be happy to see. How about it? Oh, you don't have to answer. I'm going to introduce them whether you like it or not."
Rumble, rumble, rumble!!
Nekiel, the creator and master of the sanctuary, exploded with immense power.
"I'll incinerate you right now."
To Lument, that blue knight order was undoubtedly a nightmare and a calamity.
But right now, they didn't even register.
Nekiel's eyes saw only the human mocking him.
He would tear that mouth apart right now—
"The great sins of Sloth and Gluttony."
"!?"
Nekiel's movement, which had seemed ready to launch at any moment, came to a halt.
An unfathomable unease settled onto the face of the self-proclaimed great creator.
And as if to prove that unease was not unfounded, Jin-hyeok held up Nia with both hands.
"Deactivate your manifestation before you hit the ground."
"Mmm."
"Eat well and come back."
"Okay!"
He let go of the body he was holding.
With her limbs spread wide, Nia began a free fall into the sanctuary.
Perhaps because she was finally facing the being she had longed to meet for so long.
The great sin of Sloth, which had been consuming Nia, began to slowly recede.
At the same time, the great sin of Gluttony filled the void.
As the endless Gluttony surged, the corners of Nia's mouth curled upward.
From Nia's body, a pitch-black energy exploded outward.
An unfathomable darkness transformed into the maw of a colossal beast, revealing thousands of teeth.
"Hellooo."
The great sin of Gluttony, Nia, greeted the now-close Nekiel.
It was a greeting of joy at their meeting, and at the same time, a farewell to an eternal parting.
[Gluttonous Annihilation]
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T/N:
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