Leveling with the Gods

Side Story 93

YuWon slowly opened his eyes.

An instant later, a bright light hit his eyes.

It's because he has been in the dark Tartarus or the Black Woods for a long time.

His vision quickly returned.

A hand as white as snow approached YuWon's face.

Zas, swish.

"Awake?"

Pandora ran her hand over YuWon's face, as if waking up someone who had fainted.

YuWon nodded, puzzled.

"Yes, I'm awake."

Pandora withdrew her hand and turned her head.

YuWon's gaze naturally followed.

"He woke up too."

Zeus, with bandaged wounds and dressed well.

He didn't even look Pandora in the eyes.

"It must be uncomfortable."

When did that guy wake up?

Although it hasn't been long, he has already recovered and is standing.

It's a remarkable recovery.

Of course.

"It won't be as good as Hercules, but that guy's body isn't normal either."

Zeus's main strength lies in his overwhelming Lightning power.

However, that doesn't mean his physical abilities are low.

He just throws Lightning because that ability is more outstanding.

Swish.

"I owe you."

Zeus turned around while adjusting his clothes.

"But I'll pay you back."

Zeus had strong pride.

He's a guy who can't live indebted, and since he owes his life, which is the most precious thing, the reward will surely be certain.

"Let's settle the accounts later. When everything is over."

"Agreed."

"Also, there's someone I want to introduce you to."

"Introduce me?"

With an expression that seems to say, "Does someone else know you?"

It's natural for him to think that since most people have forgotten YuWon since that day ten years ago.

At this moment, the only ones who remember YuWon are Zeus and Pandora, who are here, and a handful more.

"It's a familiar face."

However.

"I think we're going to be quite close for a while."

The friend YuWon is going to introduce is someone both YuWon and Zeus know.

Tsusutsu~

["Uranus Heart" calls the inhabitants of "Tartarus."]

["King Monster Ananta" is summoned.]

The door swung open through the ring.

A wounded man emerged from the hallway leading somewhere.

Clack.

"Are they going to release me already?"

Ananta smiled broadly at the bright light he saw for the first time in a long time.

His eyes met Zeus's, and he greeted him cheerfully.

In an instant, Zeus's expression distorted as if it would rot at any moment.

"Don't get confused; this isn't freedom."

"I know. With this, I won't do anything foolish."

Ananta said this while pointing his finger at one side of his chest.

Towards the heart of the Dragon.

A heterogeneous aura could be felt.

It was a dangerous sensation, as if the heart would be devoured with just a little more movement.

It was a power that YuWon had implanted for secure control.

"Well, since things are like this..."

Ananta approached Zeus with a mischievous smile.

"Nice to see you again, brat."

"......"

A hand extended for a handshake.

Zeus stared at him with a complex expression. His face seemed filled with thoughts.

"What have you done?"

He turned to YuWon.

It was a way of asking him to explain what the hell is going on.

"He won't be able to remain the Monster King. We agreed on that."

"You're going to use this guy?"

"He'll be useful. He's not as strong as before, but he already demonstrated his ability, didn't he? Twice, even."

As for ability, there was no need to argue.

The problem was "why."

Zeus knew that the Ananta he knew wasn't the type to obediently help them after being defeated once.

Rather, he was the type of person who would seek perfection the next time.

"That's why I'm telling you."

That's why he had doubts.

"Do you really think you can control this guy?"

Why would Ananta want to help them?

And to Zeus's words.

"Well, that was before meeting this guy."

Ananta explained how they came to this situation.

"It seems you don't know."

Ananta's gaze turned to YuWon.

"About the interest, nothing."

---------------

The Demon Kings, Celestial Realm, and even Deva.

Incidents in various Great Guilds were fortunately quickly suppressed.

Thanks to Son OhGong, who created several clones and scattered them throughout the Tower.

"You make me do all the annoying work."

Son OhGong headed to the temple with a face full of complaints.

On the way back.

By chance, he met Hercules returning after finishing his work.

"I didn't know you'd be bothered by fighting."

"Was that a fight? My clones fought."

"Isn't it the same?"

"No. The feeling of fighting with a clone is much weaker than fighting myself."

"Anyway, it's something, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Like a hair?"

Son OhGong pulled out a hair to express the feeling.

It meant that the fun he could feel from a clone was only the size of a hair.

Of course.

Considering that the clones he created were made using hair as a medium, his point made sense.

However.

Hercules was more concerned about Son OhGong's main body than his clones.

"You shouldn't abuse it too much."

"Why?"

"Now I see you're losing hair."

"Hair?"

Son OhGong was surprised and touched his head.

Not much time had passed since he started creating clones using hair as a medium, which was part of his body.

It is true that those clones, regardless of their number, had a constant combat power and could fight more smoothly.

In terms of simple combat power, it was twice as efficient as a normal clone.

However, clones created in this way had the inevitable condition that "hair" was needed.

Scratch~

Son OhGong, worried, scratched his head as he climbed the stairs.

When the two reached the top of the Celestial Temple.

"I-Is it really okay to leave like this?"

"If we revenge on Olympus later..."

"Shhh. When they say let us go, let's just go."

"Okay. If we don't leave, what will they do? Fight again with Zeus? Or bother the Administrators again...?"

The Rankers descended the stairs, chatting loudly.

Seeing Son OhGong and Hercules climbing the Celestial Temple, their faces turned pale.

"Let's go."

"Sorry. Sorry..."

"Ahhh!"

Son OhGong frowned at the Rankers fleeing, even using skills.

Although he didn't know what had happened here, judging by their actions and expressions, it seemed that something was wrong.

"Never mind. Let's go."

"Okay. Let's go."

Hercules stopped Son OhGong, who seemed about to wield his Ru Yi Bang.

The two were greeted by YuWon and Pandora, not Zeus.

"What's going on? Are you here too?"

Son OhGong greeted YuWon, who had returned after a year.

For Son OhGong, who has lived for thousands of years, a year was not such a long period. However, in recent times, since the fight against the Administrators began, his absence had been felt every day.

He was more welcome than ever. However, unlike Son OhGong, YuWon's reaction was a bit cold.

"Why do you have that bitten excrement face?"

"Because of my hair."

"Your hair?"

"I have to be careful."

Son OhGong's face wrinkled.

YuWon ignored him and turned to Hercules.

"Have you heard the news?"

"Yes."

Hercules nodded and said:

"Soon, everyone will gather here."

---------------------

Thor, with Gungnir in hand, closed his eyes.

In the distant past.

When he, ascending the Tower, had just arrived at the Golden Castle, Odin handed him the spear.

"Do you want to try it?"

The legitimate King of Asgard.

To be able to hold for a moment the weapon of the Great God Odin.

Thor, without hesitation, took the offered Gungnir. Later, Thor would learn that it was a test and a warning from Odin.

"Are you sane?"

Thor lost consciousness instantly.

The Gungnir was a weapon that even the strongest Rankers found difficult to handle.

It wasn't just a matter of weight.

Due to the power contained in the weapon and the history Odin had accumulated with it.

It felt like he was drowning and about to suffocate.

'I still have a long way to go.'

With Gungnir in hand, Odin's thoughts came to him.

It was as if his father was whispering in his ear.

He was now the owner of Gungnir and the King of Asgard. He had become an exceptional Ranker and could handle Gungnir.

But still, it wasn't enough.

Odin's shadow wouldn't leave him alone.

"Forget not this weight."

Taking Gungnir from his hands.

Odin raised the spear white as snow towards the sun.

"This is the weight of the crown."

It was then...

Thor's dream turned into following Odin's steps and becoming the king who ruled Asgard.

He wanted to prove his worth by wielding that great weapon.

'Asgard...'

Thor slowly opened his eyes.

At that moment...

He saw thousands of citizens of Asgard before him, waiting for his words.

"…Live forever."

Thor returned to reality.

The Valkyries of the Golden Castle. The soldiers of Asgard.

And the citizens of Asgard, gathered to cheer his departure.

He saw them following him.

Thor tightly grasped the Gungnir in his hand.

If he were his father.

The great king of Asgard, Odin, what would he have said?

'Father...'

At that moment, as the thought continued...

"My son."

Odin's voice was heard.

No.

It wasn't heard.

It was the same message Odin had given him after returning victorious from the battle against Muspelheim long ago.

"You don't have to follow in my footsteps."

He had always followed Odin's steps.

He thought that was the way to become a great king.

And apparently, Odin knew that too.

"There are no two kings alike in this world. Don't try to fit into a mold. A king should not be limited to a mold but create his own."

"A mold?"

"That's right. You are my son, but you can be a better king than me."

'Really?'

Can I...

really be a better king than Odin?

Thor shook his head.

It was useless to even think about that.

Being as good a king as someone. Being a king better than anyone...

He had to get rid of those thoughts.

Now only mattered...

"Show them what kind of king you are."

Just as his father had taught him.

"Everyone..."

It was time to forget everything he had been taught.

"...let's come back alive."

"Asgard...!"

Brunhilde's words echoed throughout the kingdom.

Live forever!

Not only the soldiers gathered for the departure ceremony but also all the citizens of Asgard chanted in unison.

The roar of the crowd filled the kingdom.

Thor's heart beat strongly, and his chest filled with emotion.

At this moment, before the departure, he finally felt certain.

That he had finally become the king of Asgard.

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