Although his face was still very young, the child was at least as tall as Yeon-woo. His eyes widened when he realized a human was in the cabin with Valdebich. The basket in his arms dropped to the ground. “Ah, ah…!”

Valdebich sprang into action. Before the child could scream, he struck the child’s neck and the child fell to the floor. Valdebich carefully caught the child and sighed. 『I didn’t realize we’ve been speaking for so long.』

“And that child…?”

『This is a descendent of the group of survivors. He’s had to live away from civilization. He’s stuck here, so he’s a fallen divine being…what the Tower calls a half-giant.』

Yeon-woo’s eyes grew bigger. He was surprised to learn that half-giants, who were thought to be children of giants and humans, were actually fallen descendants of the giant race. “How many more of these half-giants are here?”

『I heard there were quite a lot at first, but that number continued to decrease…now there’s just over a hundred.』 Valdebich stroked the child’s head with a heavy expression. 『The Crawling Chaos didn’t touch them. There was no need to, really. From his point of view, the half-giants are bugs who can’t even be used as hunting dogs.』 Valdebich's eyes took on a sad light. 『Unfortunately, this place pretty much turned into his holy territory because it's filled with his holy power.』

“And the remaining giants must have found it difficult to survive. Is that why you made a contract with the Crawling Chaos? To protect them?”

『Yes. Fortunately, he was quite interested in me. He said I was well-informed about the Tower and perfect to use. I’m not trying to brag, but I think I’m the closest to my ancestors too.』

Yeon-woo recalled when he first met Valdebich. He had released a level that pushed the otherworld gods away. Valdebich was stronger than when he was still in Arthia. Yeon-woo could see why the Crawling Chaos would be interested in using him.

『So as you can see, I can’t leave this place. I don’t know what you came here to do, but you should get out as soon as possible. The Crawling Chaos might realize you’re here.』 Valdebich said he’d open a portal for Yeon-woo.

Yeon-woo could see the emotions in Valdebich’s eyes as he told him to go. It was an emotion he knew as well: resignation. It was an expression of despair found in those who’d given up because there wasn’t a way out. Those were the same eyes as…the ones Jeong-woo had when he lost all his friends. Yeon-woo hated looking at them. Crack. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. Anger boiled inside of him. “Let me just ask you one thing.”

『What…is it?』

“The ticket you earned after completing a quest. How come you didn’t use the ticket that could take you to any timeline or planet but used it on Jeong-woo instead?”

Valdebich didn’t speak.

“Tell me.”

『That was the only thing I could do to repent for my sins.』

“If you used it, you could’ve taken everyone here and returned to your homeland.”

『It was too late to…』

“It wasn’t because you needed help?”

When Valdebich saw Yeon-woo’s fierce eyes, he was speechless. His dead eyes began to shake violently.

“Weren’t you trying to tell someone you needed help? You were asking for a way out and for someone to rescue you, am I right?” Yeon-woo shouted with a twisted face as the cabin shook. He hadn’t noticed the aura of his level flowing out. “Don’t drag it out and just tell the truth, Valdebich. What do you want? What were you trying to ask for?”

『I-I…I mean, we…』 Valdebich’s eyes and voice trembled. A tear dripped down his cheek. 『Save…us.』

“I will grant that wish.” The Sky Wings suddenly unfurled on Yeon-woo’s back and he was surrounded by a black-red light as if he were a god descending. Valdebich watched breathlessly as Yeon-woo continued his declaration.“As your king and god.”

[You have completed the scenario quest (Proof of the King II).]

[You have made an achievement that is not easily accomplished. Additional karma will be provided.]

[You have acquired 150,000 karma.]

[You have acquired an additional 200,000 karma.]

[You have received the reward ‘Second King’s Token.]

[You have received the reward ‘Skeleton King’s Armor.]

…

[You have declared you will become the new king and the new god of the giant race. Your declaration has been announced to the entire heavenly world.]

[All gods and demons will be watching you.]

[The godly society shows hostility at your arrogance.]

[The godly society looks at you with distaste.]

[The godly society watches you with concern.]

…

[The demonic society has sent a message of congratulations.]

…

[All gods of death nod in satisfaction at your decision.]

[All demons of death smile widely at your declaration.]

[Vimalacitra waits for the day you’ll ascend to the heavenly world.]

[Cernunnos repeats that you shouldn’t forget his spirit.]

…

[As the descendants of the giants, half-giants are a fallen race that still possess transcendence. To become their god, you have to attain great accomplishments equal to their standing.]

[According to your declaration, the difficulty is increasing.]

[The scenario quest ‘Proof of the King’ has been updated to ‘Proof of the King and God’.]

[You have begun to walk the path of a god.]

[A new legend has been recorded in the legend ‘fight’ that you currently possess. Your future divine powers and domain will be based on the rank of the legends you earn.]

[You have acquired an additional 300,000 karma.]

[The continuation quest (Proof of the King and God III) has been created.]

[Scenario Quest / Proof of the King and God]

[Description: You were silent upon hearing the reason for the fall of the giant race from Valdebich, the descendant of the giants. You felt grief learning about their fall from divinity. After long contemplation, you have announced you will protect them and lead them as their king and god.

However, the descendants of the giant race do not trust or believe in you as their king and god. To gain their trust and belief, you must create legends. From this point onward, you must create a new legend. First, you must teach the lost half-giants about their mighty ancestors and restore their pride. Furthermore, you have not yet finished a proper examination of the historic sites of the giants. There is a secret related to the giants at the sites. Take your half-giants to investigate and uncover the secret. Prepare for their upcoming independence.]

[Conditions:

Completion of the ‘Proof of the King II’

Possessor of title ‘Great Warrior’]

[Time Limit: -]

[Rewards:

1. Faith of giants and followers +100

2. Third King’s Token

3. Skeleton King’s Gaiters

4. Participation in the continued quest ‘Proof of the King III’]

Yeon-woo felt something change in his body after he made the declaration. His soul grew bigger and his level higher, like when he first began exuviation after reading the revelations in the Changgong Library. It was probably the result of his announcement. Speech also contained magic power, even if it was just a little bit, and it could influence the system. His future achievements and rewards could change based on the things he said.

Also, as a being with a higher level, his words had more impact. Since it was the first time Yeon-woo announced he’d become a god, his soul changed accordingly. Even though they had fallen, the half-giants were still descendants of the giant race, who had stood on equal footing with the gods. Announcing that he would rule over them had huge repercussions.

Yeon-woo realized this was another opportunity to attempt exuviation. If he upgraded his position like this, he’d gain much more power.

[You have paused exuviation.]

[Your level is fixed.]

However, he chose not to exuviate too rashly like last time. ‘If I do it here, I’ll definitely gain divinity, but…I can’t become like the Vampiric Lord.’

This place was the territory of the otherworld gods, where Allforone didn’t interfere, so he could safely complete exuviation without anyone bothering him. But Yeon-woo decided not to after thinking of the Vampiric Lord, who had been stuck in the Demonic Sea. She spent hundreds of years hiding her presence in case Allforone discovered her. Yeon-woo didn’t want to do the same. He still had lots to do and many floors to climb. ‘I can re-attempt exuviation anytime.’

Another thought occurred to him. ‘If I continue to postpone exuviation while my soul grows, what’ll happen if I only continue to gain divinity?’ Just because he postponed exuviation didn’t mean he wasn’t growing at all. Even if his progress was slow, his soul was still growing. The quality of his soul became more refined as well, as though it were a bird still in its egg taking on a firmer shape.

He wondered what would happen if he remained a mortal but continued to grow his soul. Would exuviation take place automatically after he passed a certain limit? What would he look like then? ‘Or… is there something greater beyond that?

Yeon-woo organized his thoughts and cleared his head. Swish. When he sensed the aura around him settle back down, he opened his eyes. At the same time, he could feel something connected to his soul: Channels.

However, these Channels were quite different from the connection he had with the gods and demons he’d stolen powers from. They were Channels under him. A Channel similar to the one he had with Doyle was connecting him to Valdebich.

[Your follower ‘Valdebich’ shows extreme faith in you!]

Valdebich was on one knee, reciting a prayer with his sword stuck in the ground. He looked reverent, like a holy knight asking for a god’s blessing. Yeon-woo couldn’t get used to the sight of the three-meter tall giant kneeling, but he realized the stronger Valdebich’s faith was, the more it would influence him and increase his power.

It was a strange yet mysterious feeling. He felt like he wasn’t himself. A feeling of being able to hold everything in the world swept through his soul. Yeon-woo understood why the gods and demons tried to interfere in the lower world so much. If the passionate faith of just one person felt like this, how would it feel to have more followers and faith?

He also understood why they had split into two groups and created societies. It was easier to write legends that way. Being in a society meant sharing greater legends, and the beings at the peak of the societies would naturally become mightier.

At the same time, a question rose in his mind. How could Allforone, who didn’t have any followers, deal with the entire heavenly world alone? What exactly did being the Apostle of the Tower entail?

* * *

『This is it…sir.』

Yeon-woo followed Valdebich into the village where the half-giants lived. Valdebich peered at him on the way they traveled here. Yeon-woo clucked his tongue. “Hey, Valdebich.”

『What? I mean…what seems to be the matter…sir?』

“You don’t have to speak formally to me. Just act the way you were earlier.”

『Can I, sir? I mean…can I?』

“I don’t want to hear formal speech from my little brother’s friend.”

『Then I’ll just talk like this.』

It was the faith between a god and their follower that was important, not formalities. The reason why ceremonies and rules were so important in a religion was that gods couldn’t talk to each follower individually. Formalities were put in place so followers would be reminded of the mightiness of their god and not do anything to stain their god’s honor. Valdebich didn’t need to speak formally since he had a direct relationship with Yeon-woo, and it felt awkward for Yeon-woo to enforce it.

Valdebich obviously felt more at ease after Yeon-woo’s permission. His awkwardness made him look pitiful to Yeon-woo, and he thought that acting would never be in Valdebich’s future.

Valdebich led him to an area not too far from the cabin. It was filled with houses on the verge of collapse. The half-giants had scraped together rickety buildings in order not to stand out to the otherworld gods and end up as their toys.

‘What a mess.’ Yeon-woo clucked his tongue. He couldn’t believe the environment this rare, almost-extinct race of the Tower was living in. He didn’t see any storage places for weapons or smithies that giants should always have close by, as well. He understood they were a fallen race, but were the descendants of the giants really living here?

There was an even bigger problem. The half-giants showed up one by one after receiving signals from Valdebich. Each of them looked petrified. Yeon-woo could feel their fear all the way to where he stood. Their bodies were clearly untrained as well. If Valdebich hadn’t urged them to appear, it was obvious they wouldn’t have come out.

‘Restore the pride of these guys?’ Yeon-woo momentarily felt a sense of hopelessness as he thought of the updated quest. The half-giants were like cattle. He couldn’t feel the power of the giants coming from them at all. He’d offered to rescue them because he thought they might have some of the courage of their ancestors, but he was wrong.

He’d forgotten how fearful Valdebich had been when he first entered the Tower. If it hadn’t been for Jeong-woo and the skills he learned from his butler, he might’ve retired quickly. Yeon-woo had only remembered Sword Yaksha Valdebich and forgotten what he’d been like as a half-giant. ‘We’ve got a long way to go.’

But he wouldn’t give up. If Valdebich could grow, it meant they could, as well. Although they might be weak now, after some training, they’d become a unit of warriors no player in the Tower had. ‘And for that, I’ll have to make them work.’ Yeon-woo grinned wickedly.

The half-giants trembled as they looked at him.