Chapter 211

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 211: Soul Sword Evolution (2)

“Didn’t Zeus use the Astrape on Earth?”

[That wasn’t the true one. The real one was kept by the Lord as a war trophy.]

Astrape.

I can still vividly recall Zeus using it.

That ultimate divine weapon, struck into the ground like a lightning rod where an apartment complex once stood.

Golden lightning twisted subtly, glowing brightly.

It expanded in an instant, nearly wiping out all of humanity.

But that was a fake?

Then what was that overwhelming power?

I thought, So that’s why it’s an SSS-class weapon…

[Zeus lost to us in the religious wars. Though Rome rejected us, in the end, they were moved by the Lord and accepted us. Academia was shut down, and even the Oracle of Delphi admitted defeat and ended.]

Michael’s eyes lit up as he reminisced.

[When the Lord began spreading across the world, Olympus was our greatest adversary. After defeating them, we gained great momentum. Sure, wars broke out among various sects like Christianity and Islam, but in the end, all their faith contributed SP to the Lord. Among the other divine realms, Olympus was the most troublesome opponent. That’s why, when they fell, the Lord rejoiced. He wanted to commemorate it for eternity.]

“So the Astrape was taken from Zeus?”

[Yes. He submitted to us and offered up the Astrape, his other self. The Lord cherished it as a symbolic trophy.]

“Hmm… I see…”

Astrape.

It's great that it’s an SSS-class weapon, but that was in the past… now, my soul sword is on the verge of evolving to EX-grade. Is it even useful anymore?

Though, firing the Astrape once in Zeus’s face just to see him grimace might be satisfying.

But that’s just a fleeting pleasure...

Seeing that I wasn’t particularly thrilled, Michael quickly continued.

[The Astrape isn’t just an SSS-grade weapon. It’s Zeus’s alter ego. It contains information that can reveal Zeus’s nature as the God of Thunder.]

“So calling it his ‘alter ego’ wasn’t just dramatic exaggeration?”

[Correct. The Lord said the Astrape can help you understand the essence of Zeus. No matter if he’s now EX-grade, the root of his power remains unchanged.]

Oh?

That changes things.

Zeus has hit me with barrier-ignoring attacks plenty of times — but if analyzing Astrape gives me a countermeasure, then it might be worth using.

“Well, in that case, I’ll accept it.”

[Then are you giving up on ‘Order’?]

“Hmm. That other deity is EX-grade too. Got any tips for fighting someone like that?”

There must be some insider knowledge among EX-grades, right?

Michael responded immediately.

[If it's a typical EX-grade, the Soul God—you—should be able to handle them.]

“Huh? Really? One of Zeus’s underlings pierced my Soul Barrier like it was nothing using Zeus’s power.”

[Even for an EX-grade, that shouldn’t be easy. As you said, it’s likely because he has acquired Chaos, no?]

“Chaos…”

Chaos.

An EX-grade divine weapon with five authorities.

The first of those being Annihilation—which is even stronger than Destruction.

If he gained that power, it makes sense that barriers would be torn like paper.

[Are your doubts resolved? Then are you ready to abandon ‘Order’?]

“Hmm. That info’s not quite enough. Let’s add this: your forces need to fully withdraw as well. I don’t want to see any of you anymore. Accept that, and I’ll choose neutrality.”

[...We have a mission to save our followers.]

“Don’t worry. I’ll just overwrite all of them with Soul Conversion.”

Michael returned to a blank expression.

Was he in communication with someone?

His face then visibly darkened.

[...The Lord agrees. He accepts your terms.]

“Oh. Really?”

This guy was acting like he’d smack me and take the followers back, but now he gives in so easily?

Is ‘Order’ really that important?

[Yes… The Lord has ordered a complete withdrawal. Before that, he also commands us to revoke the ‘Satan’ designation from Kim Jiho and recognize you formally…]

“And I get the Astrape, too?”

[Correct.]

That unpleasant expression lasted only a moment.

Michael quickly reverted to his usual stern face.

Maybe because the absolute god gave the order—there was no sign of lingering attachment to the believers anymore.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

[Good. Let’s proceed with the contract.]

“Let me receive the item first. Then I’ll choose neutrality. EX-grades like Zeus break contracts on a whim anyway.”

[...As you wish. The Lord has sent the item and the contract. I will bring them.]

“Okay. Come on over.”

I gave Michael my home address for the contract exchange.

This guy’s agreeing to everything way too smoothly.

If I’d known it would be this easy, maybe I should’ve demanded more.

Still, getting those annoying guys off Earth and securing the Astrape—that’s a pretty solid haul.

But since they’re agreeing to everything unconditionally, it leaves a bit of a sour aftertaste.

FLASH.

A brilliant light burst from the living room floor.

I walked toward the source of the light…

“...Why are you in that form?”

Michael stood there, taking the appearance of my father.

“This form? Ah, I chose the appearance most familiar to you.”

Michael grinned slyly.

…This bastard.

Is he trying to provoke me?

Does he even know who he’s messing with?

This guy’s completely lost it.

“Asura Mode—activate.”

I changed the world around me.

The floating island above the skies—Asura’s Path.

“Where is this…?”

Before Michael could finish speaking, I launched my fist at him.

“Kuh!”

BOOM!

One punch to the face, and Michael goes flying.

Seeing him fly like that in my father’s form just makes me feel filthier.

It makes me look like a damn delinquent son.

That bastard… I won’t let this slide.

“A sudden attack!? What’s the meaning of this!?”

“You’re asking me that, after showing up in that form, asshole?”

“Ugh… I came in the form most familiar to you…!”

“Do you seriously think that’s a good reason? You’re insane.”

Michael wore a hurt expression.

But seeing that expression on my father’s face only made my blood boil.

It didn’t even look like he was faking it.

That just pissed me off even more.

He truly doesn’t understand human emotions, huh?

“…Wait. Don’t tell me… Even after becoming a divine being… you’re still hung up on worldly blood ties?”

“Of course I am. What, you don’t have a father or mother, you heartless son of a bitch?”

He might look like my father, but I have no choice—I need to punish this bastard.

Wham. Wham.

Every punch sends Michael flying far off into the distance.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

I rush in and beat him again.

And again.

[Soul God. You've arrived in Asura's Realm. Is he an enemy? Should I help?]

As I continued pummeling Michael, a message came from Asura.

He sounded eager to join in, probably itching for a fight.

“No, I’ll be the only one beating this bastard.”

[Ah... So you’ve caught that traitor Michael? I see, you’re punishing him rather than destroying him right away. Very well. Enjoy yourself.]

And with that, Asura ended the transmission.

Yeah.

I need to properly punish this bastard for betraying me.

Boom! Boom!

“Guh... Ack. Fine, fine! I’ll change my form!”

After being thrown around a few more times, Michael began to change.

He transformed into a divine-looking, blonde pretty boy.

“Good. Much better.”

“Haa... I didn’t think you were still so attached to the human world.”

Michael breathed a sigh of relief as I stopped attacking, glancing at his soul body and murmuring,

“Took a lot of damage…”

“Yeah, I’m still full of regrets. And I haven’t forgotten the time you stabbed me in the back.”

Sensing my hostile intent, Michael quickly reached out.

“T-That... I’ll apologize. I had no choice...”

“I’m not gonna destroy you. But I’m still gonna beat you up, you bastard.”

Once I get going, I don’t stop so easily.

I ignore his excuses and keep beating him.

Blond pretty boys.

Zeus, Apollo, Michael.

Maybe it’s because those types always pissed me off.

It’s extra satisfying to punch them.

Boom! Boom!

This land I shaped in Asura's Path—

Craters as if meteorites had fallen everywhere, all from Michael being hurled around.

“Guh... Wait... I’m going to be sealed at this rate...”

“You're seriously about to get sealed just from getting beat up? You dared to betray me with that pathetic strength? Damn it. You really are something else.”

“Ugh... Stop! What about Astrape? Don’t you need to get it?”

“Well, yeah... but is there any reason I have to get it from you? There are plenty of other archangels. Gabriel, Raphael? I could get it from them.”

“Urgh...!”

Michael’s soul body started to destabilize.

His lower body began to disappear, until only his upper half was left, pathetically dragged around by me.

“Well, I feel a bit better now.”

All that’s left was his chest, arms, face, and wings.

Even his abdomen was gone, and he was too weak to speak as he took the beating.

Just a bit more and he’d be sealed, so I stopped there.

“...Are you done?”

Michael asked weakly.

I nodded silently.

He propped up his upper body from the crater and flapped his wings, looking at me with a face aged by ten years.

“...Thanks for sparing me.”

“I might change my mind, so just hand over the stuff and get out of here.”

“Understood. I don’t want to stay any longer either.”

Michael spread one wing wide.

A golden portal opened up.

Rumble.

With thunder crashing, a bolt of lightning struck the ground.

It resembled the Astrape that Zeus once used...

But instead of gold, it shone with rainbow colors.

“That color’s weird. Looks like a rainbow.”

“That’s its original color. A radiant, iridescent lightning. Astrape, the divine weapon of the Sky God Zeus.”

“Rainbows have seven colors, don’t they?”

“...In ancient times, they were seen as five.”

Is that so?

Well, whether it’s five or seven colors doesn’t really matter.

The next item that appears is a large stone tablet.

Michael looked at it with a regretful expression.

“The stone tablet that recorded the Ten Commandments. I didn’t think I’d be using it for a contract like this…”

“You want to make a contract on a stone tablet? What is this, the Stone Age?”

“Don’t you know the Ten Commandments?”

“Of course I do. ‘Don’t kill,’ ‘Don’t commit adultery’... Stuff like that. But what does that have to do with this tablet?”

“It’s a sacred stone made to record the Word of the Lord. Violating it results in divine punishment.”

Moses received the commandments from God on Mount Sinai and brought them down joyfully, only to see the Israelites worshiping a golden calf.

In anger, he smashed the tablet, and those who worshiped the idol were struck down by lightning.

Turns out Moses was scary.

Not just parting seas.

“If it broke that easily, how can the contract be reliable?”

“It’s not normally breakable. It was shattered because the Israelites violated the commandments. Think of it as proof that breaking the contract comes with a heavy penalty.”

Hearing this, I inspected the tablet closely in case of any tricks.

But I didn’t notice anything strange.

As I kept examining the tablet, Michael spoke.

“Don’t be suspicious. The Lord wishes to avoid getting involved with you.”

“With me? Why?”

“Now that the Soul God has become a deity, He says He must stay as far away from you as possible.”

Am I a walking disaster?

So that’s why He accepted my demand for total withdrawal.

Anyway, as long as He doesn’t interfere, that works for me.

“Fine. Let’s make the contract.”

We proceed with the contract on the tablet.

First, I receive Astrape, the angels revoke my designation as Satan, and they pledge their support to me—then begin to withdraw.

In return, I agree to remain neutral, and all angels will retreat completely.

That’s what’s written on the tablet—in Korean.

Once I sign it...

Bzzzz.

The Korean writing on the tablet glowed.

[Commencing contract with the Creator.]

[Violation will result in severe penalties.]

Crackle.

Once the contract was complete, Astrape flew into me.

It merged into my body, and a message appeared.

[You have acquired the SSS-grade divine artifact, ‘Astrape’.]

[The skill ‘God of Thunder’ has transformed into ‘Astrape’.]

[Skill grade has increased to SSS.]

The ‘God of Thunder’ skill.

I originally got it from a shard of Astrape.

I hadn’t used it much lately...

But now that it’s SSS rank, I should test it out.

Now it’s my turn to fulfill the contract.

I drew my Soul Sword and choose neutrality.

[The Soul Sword has transformed into the EX-grade divine artifact, ‘Neutrality’.]

[Soul form is transforming.]

[You have gained the Authority: ‘Growth’.]

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]