Chapter Season 2 504

For a while, he stood there, unable to move.

Tuduk, tuk. A few drops of liquid fell from the sky like rain.

The reason it was ‘like rain’ was because it clearly couldn’t be rainwater.

The Next Stage seemed to have suffered great damage from Pale’s attacks, but it hadn’t fallen yet. It was still floating in the sky.

In other words, the falling liquid was something from the bottom of the Next Stage.

Some kind of liquid was leaking from the artificial island. Regardless of whether it was a drinking water reservoir or something else.

The implications of this situation were clear to Lukas.

Being hit as if it was rainwater, made Lukas feel dirty.

“...that conversation.”

Lukas’ lips twitched.

“I’m sure you heard it all.”

[...]

“Tell me. Is everything Diablo said true?”

[Most of it.]

The Lightning God’s dry answer came back.

The possibility he anticipated the most.

The moment the possibility that Diablo had misunderstood something disappeared, his clenched fists tightened even more.

It had been confirmed by none other than the Lightning God, a Ruler.

No, that wasn’t all.

After hearing everything Diablo said, Lukas couldn’t help but understand what he was saying. This was because most of his unanswered questions and suspicions had been solved. It was not something that could have been made up.

...But even after obtaining the truth that he’d longed for, he didn’t feel any better. On the contrary, he felt heavier.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

“Lightning God, what do you want from me?”

Lukas spoke harshly as if chewing the words.

“So this is it? The reason you wanted to send me to the Three Thousand Worlds. The reason you interfered when the Exile was playing his tricks was to make me aware of this.”

[That’s right.]

“Why?”

[Because I wanted to know what you would do after knowing the truth.]

“...”

[Didn’t I tell you? I want you to become the Void King.]

“You can become it yourself.”

[That is a difficult task.]

Although that is what he said, to Lukas it seemed as if he was saying it was ‘impossible’. After all, most things were possible for a Ruler like the Lightning God.

“What’s so hard about it?”

[The Four Knights. Don’t you know how much they hate the Rulers?]

“Don’t tell me you thought of forcefully making them submit like Diablo...”

[Of course I did. However, unfortunately, there is not enough time to make all four of them submit. I also don’t want to take an uncertain gamble in this case.]

“So you want me to be your proxy?”

The Lightning God didn’t answer, but it was clear affirmation.

But there was still something that was unconvincing.

“Diablo said. After the apocalypse* sweeps away everything, the only thing that will exist is the Void King. In order to survive, you would have no choice but to become the Void King.” (*: Previously just ‘destruction’, I changed it to highlight the severity and impact)

[Kuku. That’s one of the things the Lich got wrong. Hey, Lukas Trowman. Even if the world disappears, I will never disappear.]

“Why?”

[Because I am the Lightning God.]

That was a terrible reason.

[You don’t believe me.]

“Any words that are not supported by evidence are usually lies.”

[I already told you the reason.]

It was a pointless conversation.

Crunch.

Lukas gritted his teeth.

“...you have known about the apocalypse since a long time ago.”

[That’s right. I at least had a vague feeling about it before you were even born. The actual trigger for the apocalypse was the death of God. The implications from that incident were surprisingly large. As the Lich said, the apocalypse is no longer far away. Not from my perspective, but the perspective of a mortal.]

“Are you going to let that happen?”

[What is that supposed to mean?]

“Even if the apocalypse covers the entire multiverse, will you just watch.”

[That’s right.]

“Shit. Is it really okay for a Ruler to do that?”

Rumble, the air around Lukas shook heavily. Spider web cracks spread across the ground, and the surrounding debris rattled.

“The Absolutes, living beings, and universes are your responsibility! Are you really going to let all those who worshiped you like a god disappear?”

[Lukas Trowman... After such a long time, you really still don’t know anything about them.]

In a voice as if he couldn’t understand, the Lightning God spoke.

[All those who follow me understand me. Not to mention the Absolutes. You used to be an Absolute, so you should know... think about it. Do you think anything would change if all the Absolutes who follow me knew this?]

“...”

[Do you think a single one of them would struggle because they don’t want to be destroyed? Do you think they would tremble out of fear of extinction*? Or do you think they would be unable to overcome their fear and rebel against me? Think for yourself and answer. How would the Absolutes who learn the truth act?](*: the same ‘disappearance’ mentioned in the world of void, just changed to suit context)

“...they would follow your will.”

[Dead.]

The Demon King continued to speak in an indifferent voice.

[Sadly, there was no corpse. It’s too bad. If I could have given him to Diablo, I would have been able to find out how efficient the undead made from the corpse of one of the Twelve Void Lords is compared to when he was alive.]

“Cut the crap. You cannot defeat Yang In-hyun with your power.”

[You seem certain.]

“I am well aware of Yang In-hyun’s power.”

[Is that so? But you do not know anything about me.]

The Demon King grinned.

[Let me introduce myself formally. I’m the former 0th Demon, the one that stole all of the components that made up your close friend Kasajin, the current Demon King. And.]

Crack crack.

Black thorns sprouted from the Demon King’s body.

[Another ‘Black Horned Demon God’.]

“...what?”

[I’m deeply fatigued. Nevertheless, I wanted to walk here on my own power. Because I wanted to see you with my own eyes. I’m glad. Lukas Trowman... I’m glad you’re alive, and much stronger. However, that’s all.]

The Demon King’s eyes gradually became hazy.

[I’m going to get some rest now. So you can continue talking to ‘him’. After all, he is the one who has business with you in the first place...]

Then, the house-like body stumbled as if it was about to collapse.

He bent over, his waist which seemed that it would stretch at any moment, stopped as if it had been frozen in time.

Crack.

Then, his back, which had been completely bent, straightened as if the scene was playing in reverse.

[Hmm...]

When he heard the voice that leaked out, Lukas finally realised that it was no longer the Demon King.

“...Demon God.”

[Long time no see, Lukas Trowman.]

The Black Horned Demon God smiled.

“You have business with me?”

[You could say it’s an offer.]

“Enough of your bullshit. Again, I’m not going to accept your offer.”

[That’s a strange thing to say. Have I ever made a real offer to you?]

“...”

Lukas closed his half open mouth for a moment.

When the Demon God had stolen the body of Sedi Trowman. Even at that time, the offer he’d made to Lukas had felt more like an insult. However, that already ‘didn’t exist’. Even the Rulers couldn’t realise God’s last miracle.

[Or, have you accepted the Lightning God’s offer?]

“What?”

[There’s no need to pretend. I know the Lightning God exists within you right now.]

A convinced tone.

...He couldn’t help but wonder if the Lightning God had sent him some kind of signal.

[I didn’t do anything.]

Perhaps reading his mind, the Lightning God grumbled.

[If it had been the other way around, I would have noticed as well. That’s why I told you, it’s better to not encounter the Demon God too much.]

“...”

There was a hint of laughter in the Demon God’s voice.

[I’m not upset because something unexpected happened. Has your hatred towards us improved, Lukas Trowman? Seeing as you allowed the Lightning God to stay in your body.]

“That wasn’t my aim.”

[What do you mean?]

“I fought the Lightning God in the imaginary world. I won, but I wasn’t able to completely get rid of that guy’s remnant thoughts.”

[...what?]

The Demon God seemed to pause.

Then, he looked into Lukas’ eyes as if to ascertain the truth.

After a while, as if he realised something, the corners of his lips twitched.

[Kuk, haha, hahahaha!]

The small snicker became full blown mad laughter.

After bursting out laughing, the Demon God opened his mouth.

[You defeated the Lightning God? In the imaginary world? Just you?]

“Is that hard to believe?”

[It’s not a story I can believe or not. In the first place, it is impossible... kukuku.]

“Your arrogance is no surprise, but I’ll let you know that it was a humble victory. At that time, the Lightning God was in the state of controlling a puppet. Since he wasn’t able to show his full power─”

[It’s not a question of body. You said it yourself, it was a mental confrontation.]

“...”

[If the Lightning God was willing to use a bit more concentration, he could have summoned the main body of God in the imaginary world.]

“...what?”

[You’re doing something interesting, Lightning God.]

There was laughter mixed into the Demon God’s voice as he spoke.

[Why did you intentionally lose?]

(TL: Way to crush all of Lukas’ confidence.)