Leveling with the Gods

Side Story 72

['Tartarus' Swallows 'Monster King Ananta']

['Monster King Ananta' Resists the Call of 'Tartarus']

Kyaaaah!

The horrifying roar of a Dragon shook the earth. Even covering their ears to avoid hearing it, the roar penetrated their hands, ears, and made their heads spin.

"Ugh..."

"Kyaaaah!"

Finally, some of the Rankers who couldn't bear it collapsed to the ground.

YuWon, who was standing nearby, felt a momentary chill.

The Arcane Power density he felt from him was not much different from that of an Outer God.

'Shub-Niggurath. I feel like I'm face to face with her.'

A being with power that ranks among the best even among the Outers.

The owner of the Black Woods came to mind, whom even Foolish Chaos, Nyarlathotep, feared.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Ananta's shout tore through the sky.

Chiiiik-.

Tartarus, which had absorbed YuWon's power, grew in size.

Like a black hole. Drawing Ananta in more and more.

"It can't be that you fell from the sky all of a sudden! Are you also from outside this world?!"

Ananta had lost composure. That meant the aura emanating from Tartarus was ominous.

Once caught, it probably wouldn't be easy to escape from Tartarus. And furthermore, not only was YuWon there, but now there were several other enemies around.

Kkung-.

Securing his two legs firmly on the ground, Hercules began to push Ananta towards Tartarus.

"Let me help."

"Eh, tsk. Am I the sidekick again?"

Following Hercules, who offered to help enthusiastically, Son OhGong also aimed his Ru Yi Bang while muttering.

"Grow, Ruyi."

Baaaaaang!

The Ru Yi Bangs created from his hair pushed Ananta's body.

Heracles and Son OhGong.

The two strongest, started pushing Ananta at the same time.

In addition to that...

[Izanagi's Power Seals Monster King Ananta's Arcane Power]

[Arcane Power is temporarily limited.]

The fiercely burning lightning stopped. Ananta's heads turned towards the sky, looking at Tsukuyomi above the clouds.

"Izanagi...!"

Tsukuyomi with Izanagi's eyes. Her role was to seal Ananta's power.

Ananta, whose lightning ability was sealed. Meanwhile, YuWon opened Tartarus's gates wide.

"It seems I can help with this too."

[King of the Dead Expands Tartarus's Gate]

[King of the Dead Calls Monster King Ananta]

Ssssus-.

As the Tartarus gate widened, the force attracting Ananta became stronger.

YuWon looked back.

"It's the first time we meet, but I don't feel strange. Is it because of that power?"

Hades.

Having received the title of King of the Dead, a High-Ranker from Olympus who rose to rank 10.

He was the one who aided YuWon.

"We'll talk introductions later."

"If we're talking introductions, we should do it. You're the one helping us."

"No."

YuWon's eyes gleamed.

"It's my job."

Zonggut-.

Far away, Son OhGong's ears, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between YuWon and Hades, moved.

A tone that sounded a bit determined. And thinking about it, it was YuWon who finally let Ananta go.

"That guy is really motivated."

It seems he's more energetic than usual. And so, while Son OhGong's attention was elsewhere for a moment.

Dddddd-.

Ziiik-.

The Ru Yi Bangs the clones held in their hands began to be gradually pushed back.

The ground beneath their feet started to slide and sink.

"…?"

Son OhGong's eyes widened. No matter how strong he is, Ananta had his Arcane Power sealed. And moreover, they were joining forces with Hercules and YuWon.

Even if the opponent were Shub-Niggurath. This was the minimum they should be able to do.

"Right."

Siiik-.

The corners of Son OhGong's lips lifted.

"That's how it should be, after all."

"That's your thinking, Monkey…!"

Kuuuuk-.

Hercules, with thick veins protruding from his arms, clenched his teeth.

"Show a little strength!"

Craaaaaack-le-!

Hercules emitted a lightning bolt from his hands and added strength.

Sweat ran down his forehead like rain.

Far from pushing him back, Ananta was fiercely resisting, shaking his hundreds of heads.

"It feels like pushing a mountain deeply rooted."

He was sure he wouldn't lose to anyone in terms of strength. However, pushing Ananta, who was determined to resist, felt even overwhelming for Hercules.

'What the hell has he been eating all this time?'

Ananta had been acting strangely since he woke up from the seal. He didn't know how much he had eaten and grown during that time.

'This is too heavy.'

The resistance was too strong. Having lost composure, Ananta was now resisting with all his might. That's why Hercules felt it instinctively. If they didn't catch Ananta here and now. There might not be another opportunity.

Jeobak-.

At that moment...

YuWon, who had been pouring his power into Tartarus, took a step forward.

"YuWon?"

If he were fighting alone, it would be one thing, but this was a battle no different from a war. And furthermore, the team now had him and Son OhGong. In this situation, he should have originally taken on the role of a rear archer.

That's why Hercules asked in surprise, "Why are you...?"

Hercules, who was about to ask why he was stepping forward, closed his mouth.

Bright golden pupils.

YuWon had been using the Eyes of Foreknowledge all this time, from the beginning.

'Has he been observing all along?'

That meant there must be a reason for stepping forward.

Ananta took a step.

Moving away from Tartarus.

『If I leave here...』

Numerous eyes looked at YuWon, showing their threatening teeth.

The Monster King spoke to YuWon.

『I will chew on you first. Just wait.』

"A bit presumptuous for someone who just had a breather."

YuWon was also in shock. He never thought they wouldn't be able to catch him even after doing all this.

Hercules. Son OhGong. Zeus. Hades. Even Thor. Seeing that they couldn't even catch him with this strength, it seemed he understood why the guy hadn't been killed and only sealed in the past.

However...

"I said it was for 5 minutes."

Jeobak-.

Looking closely at Ananta, YuWon continued.

"So I can't extend it any longer."

Tuk-.

Hercules heard a small sound of footsteps. Faster than him, Son OhGong realized YuWon's intention.

"And thinking about it, don't you know?"

Son OhGong smirked at Hercules. Hercules frowned at the mocking look.

"What are you talking about?"

"That guy's thing."

Son OhGong's gaze shifted.

Around Ananta. One by one, goats began to emerge from the Black Woods.

"There were still a few left."

Beeeeeh.

"Traces of those guys."

Numerous goats surrounded Ananta. From goats the size of a man to the size of a house.

Ananta's eyes widened at the appearance of the goats.

"That is..."

Suddenly. A scene flashed through Ananta's mind.

--"What are you?"

Before coming here. He had briefly encountered a small goat. A one-eyed goat that bleated upon seeing him.

--"You're not one of my children, are you?"

The creature, though small, was a monster, but it was not his child.

It seemed strange to him. All monsters in this Tower should be his children. And then the goat opened its mouth and bit Ananta's shoulder. He realized the true identity of the goat.

--"It's you who comes from outside."

Outside the Tower. Beings with unimaginable power, feared even by the Administrators, who hid.

The goat was a fragment of them.

That's what he thought at that moment...

But...

"It's you-!"

Kwaak, kwaaduk.

A thousand goats began to bite Ananta's body. His flesh was torn and ripped. The bleats of the goats echoed everywhere. And with the appearance of these goats. The alliance of Olympus and Asgard also descended into chaos.

"Ugh, ugh..."

"Hiiik!"

"Those things are not..."

Most of the Rankers here were from Olympus and Asgard, and they had experienced the war against the Outers. Even some of them had fought against the goats in the two battles against Shub-Niggurath.

Shub-Niggurath.

The owner of the Black Woods and half of Yog-Sothoth, the leader of the Outers.

Ten years were not enough to forget that existence.

"That guy is determined."

Hercules smirked at the goats YuWon had summoned. There was no way YuWon didn't know how people would react to using the Names of the Outers on this battlefield.

He, along with Zeus, was better than anyone at reading the tide. And despite that, the only reason he called the goats was one. YuWon's determination to catch Ananta at all costs.

"Fool, now is not the time to be impressed!"

Hercules snapped back to attention at Son OhGong's shout. While the goats attacked Ananta. It was time to finish Ananta off once and for all.

-I like big guys like you.

Skit.

On Ananta's scales. Wounds appeared at a rapid pace, accompanied by a stormy wind.

-Since they are big, there's a lot to cut.

[Storm Dominion]

Kwagat, kwakagak-.

Kigigik.

Countless sword cuts that tore the tough scales one by one. Susanoo stood on Ananta's body, cutting it.

And that wasn't all...

Not only that.

Krung, kurur-.

Thunder resonating in the earth.

The Rankers' eyes turned there at the roar of the golden-tinged Lightning Bolt.

"It seems that before it was just big."

Craaaaaack-.

Astrape.

It was Zeus, preparing his ultimate attack again. Although he couldn't use it frequently due to its immense power. Depending on how it was used, this attack had the power to change the course of the battle.

"Be careful not to get caught."

Unlike his kind explanation. Zeus unleashed Astrape without caring about Son OhGong or Hercules who were nearby.

Tuhuak-!

Kwauuung-!

A giant Lightning Bolt spear pierced Ananta's body.

Kyaaaaaa-!

Ananta's body shook violently.

The Dragons screamed.

Hercules and Son OhGong absorbed the scattered Lightning Bolt from Astrape with their bodies and pushed Ananta's body towards Tartarus.

Kwadak, kwadadak-.

Beeeeeh-.

Bitten by the goats, Ananta looked at YuWon. At this point, he also knew. Victory had already tilted.

Ananta, with more than half of his body inside Tartarus, felt the strength in his body fading.

"I will curse you!"

He uttered the words using the heads he had left. Leaving a curse for YuWon. Paying no attention to his eyes, YuWon responded by touching his cold ring.

"I'll see you later."

At that moment, when Ananta's body sank completely into Tartarus...

Srrrurrr-.

[Tartarus welcomes 'Monster King Ananta']

In the center of the battlefield. An empty space was revealed where the huge Dragon had been.

-KO-FI

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