Leveling with the Gods

Side Story 56

3000 years ago

Vayu, who had just become a Player, walked wounded and half-naked through the streets. There were always predators in the Tower lurking for new Players.

"Damn bastards..."

Thud~

Finally, Vayu collapsed. The wound on his abdomen was opening wider and wider. He needed to stop the bleeding, apply medicine, and treat the wound for a long time.

But...

"There he is!"

"He fled over there!"

Veteran Players who had taken everything from Vayu were relentlessly chasing him, leaving him no chance.

"Curse, curse, curse!"

It was impossible to escape in this state. Using his mental strength to move his legs had only brought him this far.

It was unfair.

How had he survived?

How had he passed that infernal Tutorial?

'Why is the building... shaking...?'

His vision blurred. Focus faded from Vayu's eyes as he collapsed to the ground. The footsteps of his pursuers were getting closer.

There was no hope left.

And then...

"It's too early to give up."

Whoosh~

Someone appeared in his blurry vision. A warm sensation enveloped him as their hand touched him.

The man who appeared before Vayu was Vishnu. With a gentle smile, he covered Vayu's eyes.

"Sleep deeply, and everything will be better when you wake up."

That day...

Vayu was saved by Vishnu.

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

Whoosh~

A murderous aura filled the place. Countless eyes were fixed on Vayu. Although each of them was weaker than Vayu, their number was overwhelming.

"Calm down, everyone. Don't smother me."

"Vayu!"

"How dare you show your face here?!"

His fellow Rankers shouted. As if he had expected it, Vayu pulled a fan from his chest and waved it.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind blew. However, it carried no murderous aura and posed no threat to the present Rankers.

The meaning of the wind was clear. It was a signal for them to be quiet.

"Use your brains if you have them, idiots."

Vayu clicked his tongue. His words only served to fan the flames that were already subsiding.

"What...?"

"Idiots?"

"Are you done talking, Vayu?!"

Deva's Rankers were angry again. However, no one moved impulsively as before. They were all experienced Rankers. The fact that Vayu, the official representative of Deva, was here meant he had something to say.

"Yes, you are idiots."

Vayu spoke with conviction. At that moment, his gaze turned to Yama and Varuna.

"Think. What must you do to survive now?"

"Are you saying we should betray Deva and join the Administrators?"

Hanuman shouted angrily. He approached Vayu with long strides, causing the trees he stepped on to wither and twist, showing his fury. Vayu, anticipating this situation, remained calm.

"It's not a betrayal."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Weren't we all united under Vishnu-nim? Now that Vishnu-nim is gone, what sense is there in us remaining united under the name of Deva?"

Hanuman, as if he couldn't hear more, shouted while waving his arms forcefully.

"That's treason, Vayu!"

Swoosh!

The sand sprouted from the twisted tree. A bunch of sand enveloped Vayu. Hanuman, with his elevated Arcane Power, had swollen neck veins.

"Vishnu-nim died at the hands of the Administrators! And how can you... join those Administrators...!"

At that moment...

Crack!

The sand falling on Vayu froze. Firmly compacted sand. And the familiar magic that opposed Hanuman.

"Quiet down a bit, Hanuman. Listen to what I have to say."

Hanuman looked at the woman stopping him.

"Soma...?"

"Vayu is speaking, right?"

She stood in front of Vayu.

And it wasn't just her.

Hesitant companions.

No, those he considered companions.

"Not only Vayu and Surya."

Crunch, crunch.

The trees swayed with Hanuman's anger. He was a High-Ranker of Deva. Although his rank was lower than Vayu's, he was a being with the power of dozens of ordinary Rankers.

However, he didn't move recklessly.

No, he couldn't. He couldn't judge lightly how rotten Deva was.

"Very well. I'll listen. Speak."

"Thank you, Hanuman."

He wanted to punch that sadly smiling face. But he couldn't. He knew it wasn't a situation he could handle alone.

The only person who could change this situation was one.

Sideways~

Hanuman's gaze turned to Yama, who watched the situation in silence.

'Why don't you move, Yama?'

Now that Vishnu was gone, he was undoubtedly the strongest among Deva's High-Rankers.

A two-digit High-Ranker. His power was such that he could face Vayu, Soma, and up to ten High-Rankers at the same time.

And most importantly, he was more devoted to Vishnu than anyone Hanuman knew.

Yama, who had lived his whole life in the shadow of Vishnu. He thought he would surely be furious at the appearance of Vayu.

'Are you, too, Yama?'

It was a terrifying thought, but he couldn't judge hastily. After all, who would have thought that Deva would come to this point?

His head throbbed.

Everyone he considered comrades could be enemies.

While Hanuman remained silent, Vayu continued speaking.

"Vishnu-nim won't come back. We have to choose. Live or die."

"Can't we fight the Administrators and win?"

"Do you think it's possible?"

Vayu scoffed at someone's question.

Maybe ten years ago. But King Odin is dead, Vishnu-nim is dead, and many other High-Rankers have lost their lives."

"Is there no hope?"

"That's right. And now more than ever. Because several High-Rankers, including myself, have joined the Administrators."

"You speak cowardly words so easily, Vayu."

At Hanuman's roar, Vayu turned towards him.

"There's no other way, Hanuman. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I must keep living."

"How can you forget the grace Vishnu-nim granted you...?"

"Vishnu, Vishnu, Vishnu!"

Fwoosh!

At Vayu's cry, a fierce wind swirled around him.

A wind charged with Arcane Power.

With wide eyes, Vayu waved his arms and shouted:

"How long must I be bound by that? Does my life belong to Vishnu-nim just because he saved me a couple of times?"

Turning away from Hanuman, Vayu looked at Varuna. Varuna startled and took a step back at the murderous face that was completely different from the Vayu he had always known.

"Think about it."

Wooooosh!

And at that moment...

"Consider who is here now."

In the sky...

In the cloudless sky...

Caw, caw.

Caw, caw, caw.

From there came a familiar laughter.

Thousands of jesters.

"Envoys...?"

Floating in the sky, the Envoys observed Deva's Rankers.

How hadn't they noticed the presence of so many beings above their heads before?

'It can't be...'

"Do you want me to guess what you're thinking?"

At Hanuman's anxious expression, Vayu responded with a riddle-like tone.

"Have the Administrators come as well?"

Wooooosh!

In response to his words, pressure crushed Deva's Rankers.

"You got it, Hanuman."

It was a chilling sensation. No, it was more than that.

Terror and reverence imprinted on their instinct.

Hanuman broke into a cold sweat, struggling against the weak will that forced him to kneel.

'Is this...? An Administrator...?'

Hanuman, who had led the opposition to Vayu's words, felt his resolve shatter. Seeing the woman manifesting among the thousands of Envoys, Hanuman couldn't do anything.

To fight...

It was impossible to imagine fighting against such an opponent now before their eyes.

'Damn it.'

Smack!

Hanuman struck his trembling leg with his fist. The sharp pain returned him to sanity. Trembling in fear before Vishnu's enemy, even with the Administrator's presence, was unforgivable.

"Think it over, everyone."

The one who was now the voice of the Administrator, not Vayu of Deva, looked around.

"Decide whether you want to surrender your life to the already deceased Vishnu or if you want to live."

"…"

"…"

Silence fell upon the place.

Complex thoughts reflected on their faces.

They observed each other, seeking clues in the expressions of others.

Some, with determined faces, had already made a decision.

Hanuman, bewildered, looked around.

'What's happening to everyone?'

Even if it was coercion under the threat of death.

"You... are you really going to yield to that trash?"

It was strange. Even if they valued their lives, many were surrendering too easily. Deva's Rankers, who had overcome life or death trials to reach the top...

"Sorry, Hanuman."

Crunch.

At that moment, someone made the first decision.

Soma. She approached Vayu and made it clear which side she was on.

And that was the beginning.

Click, click, click.

Deva's Rankers gathered around Vayu one by one.

Seeing them move as if they had made a pact, Hanuman reflected on Soma's words.

"'We'...?"

Before those words, which seemed to anticipate this situation, Hanuman realized the nature of the strange discomfort he had been feeling.

Growl~

"These bastards...".

Even before arriving here, some had already given up.

Deva was already rotten, and now it was rotting even more.

And not just them...

"We can't go on like this."

"With the Administrator involved...".

"Die or hold onto our beliefs. Those are our only choices."

It was time to make a decision.

Die or live.

"Yama! Say something!"

Hanuman looked at Yama. If anyone was more loyal to Vishnu than anyone, it was him.

He thought that at least he would be furious about this situation.

But...

"...Yama?".

Yama didn't respond.

With closed eyes and crossed arms, he remained silent.

Holding his breath, as if in deep reflection.

'Don't tell me you too, Yama?'.

Now that he couldn't trust anyone he considered a comrade.

It wouldn't be strange if Yama also betrayed Deva.

Maybe even Varuna, who organized this meeting.

"Hoo-".

Yama raised his head.

Looking at the sky where the Envoys laughed and jeered, and at the Administrator watching them, Yama gritted his teeth.

And then...

Crunch.

Someone else began to move.

"...It was hard to bear."

Seeing him move, Yama finally lowered his arms and opened his eyes.

"Can I act now?".

"Yes."

Whoosh.

With red-glowing eyes, YuWon approached Vayu.

"You don't have to hold back anymore."

-KO-FI

'Ko-Fi' for Advanc3 Ch4pt3rs (Up to '95' more ch4pt3rs)Publication of up to 6 weekly ch4pters, thanks.

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