On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 253: #Tower of Gods First Floor: Trial of Rock? (3)

Ruuuumble!

Though it was day, the world lay in darkness. A deafening roar split the sky apart. The owner of that darkness was an absurdly gigantic eye that peeked through the rift in the sky, gazing upon the world.

I watched the scene unfold through the titan’s eyes. The monster’s appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to the God of Destroyer’s alter ego that Johan had tried to summon before—only ten times larger.

The old man ecstatically looked up at the sky, cackling maniacally. “Hahaha! Did you see that?! You monster! This is the true god, you’re incomparab—”

Clang!

“What?”

The old man looked at his dagger on the ground, wide-eyed. The arm that had been holding it had vanished.

“Eeek! W-why would you do that, God of Destroyer!” the old man desperately pleaded, but he was mercilessly reduced to ashes like burning paper. “I-I...I can’t go down like th...! Aaaargh...!”

Pssss!

Just like that, the old man disappeared.

“Aah, foolish king... Did you really think that God of Destroyer would spare you...?”

The saintess sighed, looking at the crown that had fallen to the ground. Then, she shed tears as she looked up at the sky where the Titan she worshipped was, and where God of Destroyer was descending from.

After years with the saintess, the titan could read her emotions in a glance.

-Don’t worry, Saintess. Your nightmare will never come true.

Glaring at the alter ego that enveloped the sky, the titan made a booming declaration.

-Never, as long as I am here!

The titan began glowing red-hot like lava, and his already massive form swelled even larger with a terrifying force.

-Get out of my world at once, you filthy eye!

The titan crouched, then leaped fiercely toward the sky.

Shaaa!

The eye narrowed mockingly. That looked all too familiar—it resembled the sinister smile of Despair.

Baaaam!

Moments later, the colossal divine beings collided with one another, and the titan seemed to prevail. The alter ego, which had just begun its descent into Rockstone, was flung out of the atmosphere.

-Hyaaa!

The titan glared at the God of Destroyer. Beneath his feet laid not a spherical planet like Earth, but a flat world of Rockstone.

-Kihihihi!

A woman’s ominous laughter echoed in the airless space. At the same time, the giant eye cracked open, revealing fangs as vicious as a beast’s jaws. A black tongue appeared from within, writhing disgustingly. As if openly displaying its appetite for the titan, rotten saliva dripped from its maw.

-You filthy monster!

Expressing his disgust plainly, the titan drew his massive sword. He aimed his sharp, majestic blade at the God of Destroyer’s alter ego.

-I’ll crush that disgusting eye!

Titan let out a roar and swung his sword at God of Destroyer’s alter ego.

Swish!

Black tentacles burst forth from the eye, engulfing the titan.

Darn it! I have to do something here!

As far as I was aware, the titan eventually lost and perished along with Rockstone. Should I release Young Parasitic God and leap into space to help him?!

But it might not be necessary...?

The battle was unfolding differently from what I had expected.

-Keke! You monster, feel the power of the god of Rockstone!

Crack!

The titan roared as he shattered the remains of that alter ego beneath his feet. Although he was in a disarray, with blood oozing from his wounds, victory was clearly his. Could the history I knew be changing right now?

-DIe!

The titan raised his sword high, about to finish the alter ego off.

-Kihihihi!

-Kyahahahaha!

-Yihihihi!

Chilling, ominous laughter echoed from all directions.

Riiiip!

A rift appeared in space, and three other gigantic eyeballs appeared, surrounding the titan. Their cackling erupted.

-You darn monsters!

Enraged, the titan swung his sword at the alter egos.

Ssss!

Yet they merged as naturally as a drop of water, even the defeated eyeball included. Thus, Despair descended. A monster that could swallow an entire planet in one go was born.

Ruuuumble!

Thunderous below echoed through the universe. It was merely the alter ego shifting its gaze toward the titan. Even with his overwhelming size, the titan was akin to a mouse before a lion.

-T-this is unbelievable...

His hand, which gripped his massive sword, shivered badly. As an unrivaled, almighty being, this was the first time he’d ever felt fear. Surely, not even a High-tier god could match a being of such caliber. Moreover, this was just a fraction of its true form. He instinctively knew if he fought that thing, he’d die. He wanted to run.

-Kihihihihi!

The alter ego’s red eyes, blazing like the sun, narrowed sinisterly, conveying its intention.

“Do you want to escape? I’ll spare you if you leave your world and saintess behind.”

The titan’s gaze lingered for a moment on Rockstone, slightly tempted by the sweet offer.

“O’ Mountain-Gnawing Titan, my precious one. Please be safe...”

More precisely, on his saintess, who was praying earnestly with her hands clasped together.

-Stop spewing nonsense, you rotten eyeball!

The titan gritted his teeth. Now wasn’t the time for him to be overcome by fear.

-Youuuuu! I am the god of Rockstone! The Mountain-Gnawing Titan!

The titan roared, charging toward the monster in an attempt to protect his world and the saintess.

***

Mountain-Gnawing Titan fought ferociously. He disregarded his own life and did everything he could. Even though his combat power surpassed that of a High-tier god, the reality was utterly cruel.

-Gaaaaaah!

Engulfed in the red beams of destruction, the titan plummeted back onto the ground of Rockstone.

Baaaam!

-Uuugh... Cough!

He vomited a river of lava-like blood on the ground. It was painful to watch. His skin was torn away, exposing his organs. All his limbs, except for his left arm, had been ripped off by God of Destroyer’s alter ego.

“O’ Titan!” the saintess screamed from afar, rushing toward him.

The giant stretched out his remaining good arm and shouted in despair.

-Don’t come o...!

Ruuuumble!

A shadow covered the entirety of Rockstone, and the alter ego reappeared. But the alter ego wasn’t unscathed either.

Baaaam!

From the hole in the giant eye, seemingly left by the titan, a stream of black fog spewed out. However, the victor was obvious, and it clearly sought the spoils of war.

Riiiip!

The eye revealed its ghastly mouth once more. Darkness, swirling like a black hole, appeared, seemingly capable of annihilating everything in its path.

-Keuuuugh!

The titan used his good hand to crawl across the ground toward his sword, which was stuck into the ground.

Woooong!

Even though the sword was broken into two and overrun with cracks, it still trembled desperately, showing its ability and will to fight. It was waiting for its master to wield it.

“Titaaaan!” the saintess cried desperately, rushing toward the titan against his pleas.

Was it because I was parasitizing the titan? The memory of his first meeting with the saintess flashed across my view. Back then, there were countless other gods besides him, and all of them were fighting to gain control of Rockstone.

-Who are you?

A small girl had approached the titan, who was lying down leisurely after devouring a mountain.

“O’ s-strong and magnificent titan of rocks! P-please accept this and protect our village!”

Back then, those oppressed by the gods often sought help from other powerful gods. But what the girl offered was neither a valuable treasure nor a rare artifact—it was simply a bunch of flowers she’d picked from the mountain.

-Hmm... You wish to attain god’s salvation with just flowers?

Sniffling, she looked up at the titan. “I beg of you... Is it hopeless? At this rate, our village will...”

No matter how much he mulled it over, it didn’t make any sense. Nevertheless, the titan decided to accept her request. He was mostly just bored. Besides, the girl was much more beautiful than any treasures or gems he’d come across. Had a filthy man come forth, he’d have killed him without batting an eye.

Thus, the titan gestured to her. The flowers in her hand flew into the air, and among them, a white flower landed on her head.

-These flowers suit you more than I do. Lead me to your village, Beautiful Girl.

The titan scratched his nose awkwardly.

Later, she became the very first follower of the titan, who was once nothing but an object of fear. She was his saintess, and also the only woman he’d ever loved.

-Keugh...

With only a few inches of his sword, the titan reached out desperately. He had lost so much blood that his complexion was as pale as a white jade.

-Ugh... I must survive... please... help my... saintess. Anyone, please....

I knew how this story would end. Tragically, just like my world, which was ruthlessly destroyed by Despair. And if I hadn’t been there...

Somehow, I feel like I can do something now.

The titan’s first, desperate wish, which sounded like a plea of a lost, wandering child, reached me.

I opened my mouth to speak, and the titan’s lips parted at the same time.

-Healing Ring Finger of God.

Suddenly, the titan’s eyes grew wide, about to explode.

Tzzzz!

He was enveloped in blinding white light, and all his wounds were healed as if they were washed away.

-Huh?

At the same time, the titan’s left hand grabbed the broken sword—not by his will, but under my control.

Thud!

The Mountain-Gnawing Titan’s sword moved. It was no longer the mindless, brute force sword, but one that was imbued with supreme martial arts.

-Kihihihihi!

God of Destroyer’s alter ego cackled away maniacally, attempting to devour the titan and his world.

I swung the sword toward the massive hole in the eye that the titan made earlier.

-Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword Ultimate Stance, Demon Lord’s Disintegration!

I struck down with all of our divine powers combined.