In a dimly lit place, a group of wounded hunters was fighting a humanoid creature. The creature stared at them with eyes full of contempt, as if watching ants struggling pointlessly.
"Useless, lowly creatures... Today, the great King will rise, and you pathetic monkeys will be annihilated." Kandiaru spoke in a cold, mocking voice. It was clear he didn't take these "ants" seriously.
Strangely, Kandiaru was happy. After years of planning, everything was finally coming to fruition. "Sung JinWoo, the vessel I've nurtured for so long... is finally ready to bear the transcendent existence of the King." Today was the promised day—the day of the Shadow King's emergence.
And after this... "I will receive my reward: immortality." Kandiaru smirked sinisterly, but suddenly froze. The thought of one person occupied his mind.
"I wonder... Is the great God pleased with this spectacle?" Anxiety trembled in his inner voice. This wasn't fear, just the concern of a loyal servant who didn't want to displease his master.
As a devout follower of Shikama Doji, his only duty was to satisfy his master. Even if Shikama Doji ordered him to commit suicide, he would obey without hesitation. His existence was solely for fulfilling his master's pleasure.
It was as if Shikama Doji had corrupted him. The corruption of an Outer God could distort minds so thoroughly that the victim would fanatically worship them—even if told the sun didn't exist, the corrupted would believe it.
---
With the situation like this, we're all going to die. Choi Jong-In, coughing up blood, hurled a fireball toward Kandiaru. But Kandiaru suddenly appeared behind him and swung his deadly scythe downward. Choi Jong-In barely dodged
The statues had surrounded them. Their numbers seemed endless.Statue of God stared at the injured hunters with a sadism grin, as if it enjoyed their struggle.
The situation was critical. Even the S-rank hunters had been pushed into a corner. If this continued, they would all be wiped out.
---
Meanwhile, Sung Jinwoo had fallen into a deep slumber.
Memories of an ancient war played in his mind: a colossal battle between angels and monsters. When the monster army was defeated, an army of shadows suddenly emerged—so vast that even the sight of their numbers shocked Jinwoo.
"So... he is the Shadow King." Jinwoo, in his spiritual state, stared at this being. "He's strong... incredibly strong." This being could easily erase humanity, especially with that army of undying shadows—soldiers who mocked death itself.
After the angels fell, a group of demons entered the battlefield, clashing with the shadows. But the shadow army revived over and over—as if the concept of death was foreign to them.
Eventually, even the demons were defeated.
Suddenly, the world cracked, and Jinwoo found himself in a new place—a starry sky, at the center of which stood an angelic being with wings covering its face.
When Jinwoo stared at it, his entire being trembled. His mind was shattering—the presence of this being was unbearable. "Mortals must not gaze upon God..." This wasn't just an exaggerated saying. For lower beings, witnessing higher-dimensional entities is lethal.
Shikama Doji, by suppressing his traits, had lowered himself to a level Jinwoo could comprehend—otherwise, his mind would've instantly collapsed. It was like a two-dimensional being trying to perceive a three-dimensional form.
"You... who are you?" Jinwoo asked, struggling to stay composed. Even his consciousness was fighting to hold on.
"It saddens me that you don't know me... As one of your admirers, I've given you many gifts." Shikama Doji feigned sorrow.
Jinwoo immediately realized who he was.
"You... you're the System Administrator?!" he asked in shock. He never expected this to happen so soon. He felt Shikama Doji's gaze filled with amusement.
"Correct, little King... I am the Administrator. Though, you may call me Shikama Doji. I'd love to talk more, but... your friends need you. So... I'll see you later."
Jinwoo's eyes widened—
[Playback of recorded information has ended.]
"Wait!" he shouted. He had finally met this being!
---
Suddenly, he returned to reality.
His eyes shone with a violet light, and a purple aura enveloped him.
While Kandiaru was gleefully crushing the "ants," Jinwoo slammed his fist into his face.
Kandiaru fell to the ground. His eyes widened in shock. Jinwoo stepped on his chest.
"How is this possible?! You're not the King, yet you stand in his place?! Even with the Black Heart, how did you retain yourself?! And this aura... this presence..."
Suddenly, Kandiaru understood.
He sensed the presence of the great God.
"You... you met the great God?!" He stared at Jinwoo with envious eyes. "A lowly human... was allowed to see the great God?!"
His rage erupted. "Damn you! That honor should've been mine!"
Jinwoo asked in surprise, "You mean Shikama Doji?" It was as if he knew who the System Administrator was.
Kandiaru trembled with fury. "How dare you speak God's name?! You wretched worm!"
Now, all he wanted was to tear Jinwoo apart.