Chapter 113

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 113: Godslaying (1)

As soon as I returned home, I headed straight back to the Association.

This time, I decided to take a taxi to relax and think for a bit.

“Where to, sir?”

“Hunter Association Headquarters at Yeoksam Station.”

“Alright, understood.”

As the car started moving, something felt unfamiliar.

Lately, I’d been flying around using magic while running through A-rank dungeons nonstop.

I hadn’t had the chance to enjoy the conveniences of modern civilization in a while.

“Hoo…”

Godslaying.

I needed to use Soul Energy Emission to kill, but I wasn’t sure if I should summon my Soul Sword here.

The Soul Reaper skill level was now at 19 across the board.

Thanks to Hercules’ mentoring, the required SP had been significantly reduced, making this achievement possible.

The mentoring effect wasn’t perfect yet…

Should I invest some SP now and level up?

If I raised Soul Reaping, Trait Absorption and Soul Energy Emission by one level each, it would cost 5 million SP per skill—a total of 20 million SP.

Hmm, I should do it.

If I waited a bit longer, I might be able to upgrade them at a discount, but it seemed better to go for it now.

As soon as I leveled all four skills to level 20, a series of messages appeared.

Most of them indicated a massive efficiency boost at level 20, but one particular message caught my attention after upgrading Soul Energy Emission:

[The efficiency of Soul Energy Emission has drastically increased. Now, it drains an enemy's SP at 40 times the amount you consume.]

[Soul Energy can now be imbued into magic, thrown weapons, and other ranged attacks.]

[For ranged attacks, the efficiency is reduced by half.]

Previously, the efficiency increased by one multiplier per level, meaning at level 19, it was at 28x.

But upon reaching level 20, it jumped straight to 40x.

And if I could imbue Soul Energy into ranged attacks, that meant I could apply it to Thunder God’s powers or magic.

Nice.

Of course, fighting with the Soul Sword was still far more efficient, but having ranged options was a solid addition.

Then, another message popped up.

[You have acquired the Soul Barrier skill from the Soul Reaper class.]

[Soul Barrier LV.1]

[Consumes SP to generate a protective barrier. The larger the area, the higher the SP consumption. Nullifies all attacks and magic that do not contain Soul Energy, protecting up to 40 times the SP consumption amount.]

That golden Soul Barrier Hercules had used to block external surveillance…

Since magical detection counted as an external force, this could probably block it too.

Curious about its leveling cost, I checked—it took 1 million SP to upgrade from level 1.

With all my spending, I was now down to 3 million SP.

Hmm, should I save it?

I’d probably need SP for the godslaying mission.

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

“Oh, right. Thank you.”

After getting out of the taxi, I took my time walking toward the Association.

“Kim Jiho, I will escort you.”

A Valkyrie, already waiting for me, greeted me with a bow.

She led me to a subterranean area of the Association, taking a hidden elevator deep within the first floor, descending to B10.

“Hello, Kim Jiho. You may leave now.”

The moment we arrived, Aria, the Valkyrie captain, greeted me with a smile before turning to the Valkyrie who escorted me, dismissing her with an icy tone.

The subordinate bowed hastily and left in a hurry.

I guess she’s a strict leader.

I glanced around the underground space.

It seemed like it had originally been constructed as a parking garage, given the asphalt flooring.

But there wasn’t a single car.

Instead, the place was lined with statues of warriors.

The sight reminded me of the marble statues in the Olympus Pantheon I’d seen before.

The only difference was that these were made of metal.

As I examined the statues, Aria explained:

“These are the Einherjar. Warriors who have sworn to fight eternally in Valhalla, preparing for Ragnarök, the end of the world.”

“I see. But why are they here?”

“They are preparing for the world's end.”

She pointed upward, her finger gesturing to the world above.

Wait a second…

Wasn’t it Olympus and Asgard’s alliance that triggered the return of the world and let Chaos invade?

And now they’re pretending to be champions of justice?

Hah… Well, I guess as a Valkyrie captain, she wouldn’t know the full picture.

From her perspective, the gods she serves must be just.

Looking at the Einherjar statues, they all had the rugged appearance of elite warriors.

But none of them were giants.

“I saw something similar at the Olympus Pantheon, but there were giants there. None here, though.”

“Those who reach the level of demigods can undergo gigantification, but not everyone can. Kim Jiho, you can’t transform into a giant either, can you?”

“No, I don’t have that ability.”

“Each faction and class has different strengths. While the warriors of Valhalla cannot gigantify, they possess strength in other areas.”

She smoothly changed the topic.

“I heard from Loki. You need to slay a god, correct?”

“Yes.”

“In fact, the target has just been changed. Even Loki might not know yet.”

She looked at me with a troubled expression.

Why does she look like that?

“The original target was a lower-tier god, Guan Yu.”

Wait, Guan Yu?

The Guan Yu?

The historical figure?

Well, in China, he’s worshipped as a god, so I guess he qualifies as a lower-tier deity.

But if not him, then who?

“The new target you must eliminate is a mid-tier god—Skuld.”

“…Skuld?”

I knew about Guan Yu, but I had never heard of Skuld.

Aria’s face darkened as she explained.

“Asgard has three goddesses of fate. Skuld is the youngest, in charge of the future. She isn't a major god, but she has definitely reached the level of a mid-tier deity.”

A goddess who controls the future…

Why would Asgard want to kill one of their own gods?

It didn’t make sense.

Aria’s expression hardened.

“I can’t believe it either, but this is a direct order from Odin.”

“Why would Asgard target their own deity…?”

“I don’t know… But as Odin’s direct Valkyrie, I must obey his command.”

I couldn’t even begin to guess why they wanted to kill the goddess of the future.

Was there something in the future that Odin didn’t want anyone to see?

What could be so serious…?

And why kill her instead of simply sealing her?

“But if she’s an SS-rank deity, wouldn’t godslaying be incredibly difficult?”

“That’s why Odin has requested a soul transaction. He is offering an additional 20 million SP. Since she is mostly sealed, that should be enough.”

Odin was bribing me to kill a mid-tier god.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

I didn’t know why he was doing this, but for now, I should take the SP.

I opened the Soul Transaction window and entered Odin’s name.

In an instant, Odin transferred 20 million SP, and the deal was done.

Now, my total SP had risen to 23 million.

“Well then… The goddess Skuld is imprisoned through this portal. You may enter.”

Aria pointed to a crimson portal.

I stepped through.

Beyond the portal lay a landscape crackling with lightning.

A barren, desolate wasteland.

There was no rain or wind, only lightning crashing down repeatedly.

Especially around the ground where I was standing, lightning continued to strike as if surrounding me, flashing so intensely that it was dizzying.

Fortunately, the ground I stood on remained perfectly calm.

It was as if I were in the eye of a storm—completely isolated and shielded from the lightning.

And on that tranquil ground, a black-haired woman lay naked, her limbs bound.

Her arms and legs were stretched out in an X-shape, tied with ropes overflowing with electricity.

Her disheveled black hair obscured her face, but her naked body was covered in wounds that showed no signs of healing.

A body that was once beautiful was now nothing short of grotesque.

“You are….”

The goddess Skuld, bound by the chains of lightning, lifted her head.

Her eyes were devoid of focus, stripped of hope.

Had she not only been abandoned by Odin, the chief god of Asgard, but also tortured?

She really did look pitiful.

“Why would a goddess of Asgard be abandoned by Odin?”

When I asked, Skuld gave a powerless smile and shook her head.

The electric chains binding her limbs crackled, making her grimace in pain.

“Tell Odin this: I will never surrender! No matter how much you torture me, I will never reveal the prophecy.”

Her words were full of defiance, but her face and voice were not.

It felt like she was squeezing out the last remnants of her strength.

She was enduring because she had no other choice.

Still, she must have assumed I was on Odin’s side because she glared at me with clenched teeth.

“I’m not on Odin’s side, though.”

“You’re trying to deceive me again.”

She didn’t believe me at all.

Just what kind of prophecy was it that she was going this far to protect it?

I was starting to get curious.

I looked around.

The land where lightning struck relentlessly.

It was as if this place was meant to showcase Odin’s dominion over thunder.

Any conversation here would likely be eavesdropped on.

To avoid prying eyes, maybe I should use Soul Barrier.

I have 20 million SP anyway—it's worth a try.

“Soul Barrier.”

[50,000 SP has been consumed.]

[External interference has been blocked from the current space.]

Just like Hercules had shown me before, a golden barrier spread from my body.

The protective shield, which completely dominated the lightning-free space, surrounded both Skuld and me.

Skuld stared at me in shock.

“You… Are you a Soul Awakener?”

She figured it out just from the Soul Barrier?

Her knowledge is impressive.

At least convincing her should be easier now.

“Yes, those people wanted me, a Soul Awakener, to kill you.”

“Odin…! So, you’ve finally decided to erase me…! How far will you go in your cruelty…!”

Skuld’s expression twisted in fury.

She gritted her teeth and then looked at me, speaking firmly.

“If you really are a Soul Awakener, use Soul Energy Emission to cut off my leg.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes, that is the only way I will believe you are a Soul Awakener.”

But couldn’t a Soul Awakener still be on Odin’s side?

How would cutting off her leg prove anything?

I had no idea what she was thinking.

Well, she was someone I had to kill anyway.

Might as well cut off her leg first.

If she truly believed I was a Soul Awakener, she might reveal something valuable.

I drew my Soul Sword and unleashed my Soul Energy.

As the pure white energy flared up, Skuld’s expression brightened instead of darkening.

She was happy to have her leg cut off?

This woman wasn’t sane either.

Slash.

[500,000 SP has been consumed.]

“AAAAAHHHHH!!”

A piercing scream burst from Skuld.

Like others before her, those struck by Soul Energy Emission suffered immense pain.

Even an SS-rank goddess was no exception.

Her left leg was cleanly severed, and her spiritual form burned away along with it.

Watching her own leg disappear completely, Skuld ran her hand over the severed spot.

She fumbled around, searching for something that was no longer there.

Then, when she realized she couldn’t feel anything…

She suddenly let out a crazed laugh.

“Heh… Hehehe… Kuhuhuhuhu…! Kihihihihi…!”

Ah, this woman was terrifying.

Despite losing her leg and enduring unbearable pain, she was laughing hysterically.

Even as blood tears streamed from her eyes, she didn’t stop laughing like a madwoman.

“Kehehehe… Good, very good. You are indeed the one. You are the Adversary.”

“The Adversary?”

“A figure from my prophecy. The one who will bring Odin to ruin. The Soul God who will overthrow him and usher in a new world… That is you.”

Adversary?

So in the future that Skuld saw, I would be such a mortal enemy of Asgard?

I never really got along with Odin, but to think I would completely destroy him and create a new world as the Soul God… Hmm…

Right now, I was just struggling to survive.

“That’s quite the grand prophecy… But I’m just a mere A-rank rookie.”

“No, you are the only one. It has to be you.”

She was acting nothing like someone who had just given up everything.

She was utterly insane.

Laughing wildly, she screamed toward the sky,

“Odin! Look at this! I was right!”

“I may disappear, but Odin, your downfall is certain! How regretful that I won’t live to see it!!”

Skuld shouted at Odin as if he were right in front of her.

She was originally a goddess of unparalleled beauty, but seeing her consumed by madness made her somewhat terrifying.

“If I’m the Adversary, then tell me your prophecy.”

“Hehehe, fine. I shall tell you what I have seen….”

Just as she was about to speak, a message window popped up.

[Your Soul Barrier is under a powerful attack.]

[Additional SP is required. Would you like to charge it?]

Looking around, I saw that bolts of lightning were fiercely bombarding the golden barrier.

BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions rang out as the lightning tried to break through.

If I didn’t recharge my SP, the barrier would definitely collapse.

Seeing this, Skuld’s face turned pale.

“I will charge the SP.”

[100,000 SP has been consumed.]

When I first activated Soul Barrier, it only took 50,000 SP, but now it demanded 100,000 SP—probably because the lightning was getting stronger.

But I was too curious about Skuld’s prophecy to stop now.

As the barrier stabilized, Skuld regained her composure.

“As expected of a Soul Awakener. I will now tell you what I have seen….”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]