On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 18: Convicting Middle Finger of God

Fine dust engulfed the dark night sky of Seoul.

Flash! Rumble, bam bam bam!

From the 80-floor building housing the Hunter Association, powerful lightning streaked across the night sky. It dispersed the thick veil of fine dust, revealing the moon and stars. A miracle made possible by one person.

“Haa! Haa!”

A girl clad in insulated latex was panting. Sparks scattered from her long, lustrous black hair. She was Sung Mi-Ri, also known as the B-rank Hunter, Thunder Emperor, but this was a secret to the public.

“7,000MP! That’s an all-time high among A-rank Hunters!” The researcher who monitored her levels yelled in excitement.

“That’s awesome!” The chairman of the Hunter Association applauded in admiration.

There were some S-rank Hunters among the spectators, and neither of them could achieve similar results. Moreover, for a B-rank Hunter, especially a rare Lightning-type like her, to rank up was an extremely rare sight. With the addition of Hunter Kang-Woo, who recently gained access to the Hunter Shop, the advantage was even greater, especially considering there were fewer than ten S-rank Hunters in South Korea.

“Don’t get cocky, Sung Mi-Ri. You’re just an A-rank Hunter.”

When everyone else was celebrating her achievement, a voice said, raining on her parade. It was Sung Mi-Ri’s older sister, S-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Na.

“Don’t do anything unnecessary. If you ever think of getting revenge, I’ll kill you myself.” Sung Mi-Na spat out those words coldly, before turning on her heels.

“How scary.” Her partner, S-rank Hunter Baek Yoo-Hyun, clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Anyway, I’m looking forward to working with you, Little Sister! We’ll be seeing each other on raids more often from now on.”

Some of the officials from the Hunter Association and S-rank Hunters congratulated Sung Mi-Ri, but she didn’t feel deserving of it. After all, she didn’t overcome her limits with her own efforts.

She looked down at the small ring on her pinky finger. Ever since she put it on, her lightning ability received a terrifying and massive boost.

Surely, not even a Grade S item that cost an arm and a leg could achieve such a feat. Yet, Yu Il-Shin gave it to her as if it were nothing.

That uncle, just who is he?

Sung Mi-Ri fiddled with the Druid’s Ring as she thought of Yu Il-Shin.

***

Ding!

[Appraisal complete!]

Hell yeah!

Information on me appeared immediately after.

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[Yu Il-Shin]

A Low-tier God of Antrinia. Originally known as Nameless God. Eventually attained status through the faith of the black tribe that presided over the World Tree.

Special note: Weak loser.

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...The fact written in the special note hit me like a punch to the gut. Still, I was a Low-tier God? I guess it’d be weirder if killing a few ants attained me a high rank.

Huh, why is it so long?

My previous appraisals were at most four lines long, while my own showed a long wall of information.

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[Titles]

Titles are granted through acts of God.

Currently holding 2 titles.

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-Brutal Killer (Malevolent God): Rank D

The power of destruction and combat luck is gained according to the god’s development.

The current reward for increasing the title’s rank allows the purchase of a power of a Low-tier God at the God’s Shop without using Gcoins. However, you may only purchase a malevolent god’s power.

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-Benevolent Savior (Benevolent God): Rank E

Small miracles happen according to the god’s development.

As the evil alignment is currently stronger, you might be favored by the malevolent gods and shunned by the benevolent gods.

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[Innate Power]

Powers that gods acquire through their own talents and experience. Closely tied to their alignment.

Yu Il-Shin currently has 2 innate powers and “???”.

-Crushing Forefinger of God: Rank F

Description: Your rank increases with the faith you earn or the achievements you unlock.

-Blind Eyes of God: Rank E

Description: This innate power has been upgraded from F to E due to the successful appraisals made by the Low-tier God. Rank increases as you succeed in appraising more difficult targets.

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There was more valuable information presented than I expected.

First and foremost, the titles. At the moment, my alignment was leaning toward the malevolent side. Apparently, I was shunned by Benevolent Gods. Since my Malevolent God title was at Rank D, I should probably raise the rank of my Benevolent God title to the same level.

Right, I could also level up my innate powers. Then, I shifted my attention to the next item.

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-“???”

Description: Power bestowed by the Ultimate Malevolent God, Silently Crawling Nightmare.

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Silently Crawling Nightmare? Wasn’t that the guy who sent me ridiculous messages on Katalk earlier? So, he wasn’t roleplaying? He was a real god, and of the highest tier?

“Ah.”

It suddenly occurred to me. Something happened during the onslaught of the army of red ants. When I was about to die in the fire, I received a mysterious message out of nowhere.

Ding!

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[The high-ranking malevolent god, Silently Crawling Nightmare, has sent Yu Il-Shin a present.]

[Favors or gifts from high-ranking malevolent gods may cause a shift in your alignment.]

[Would you like to accept the gift? (Yes/No)]

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Clutching at straws, I immediately chose “yes.” Yet, despite accepting the gift, nothing happened. That day, I only escaped with my life because of Thunder Emperor.

“Still, I’m kind of curious what they gave me.”

I stared intently on the question marks, hoping that it’d get appraised.

Ding!

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[Appraisal failed!]

[The level of Blind Eyes of God is too low.]

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“Argh!”

Along with the message from God-Maker, a splitting headache came over me.

“Huff! Puff!”

I stared at myself in the mirror as cold sweat trickled down my body. This wouldn’t do. I had to level up my appraisal skill first.

“Is this... the last one?”

Composing myself, I looked at the last item, which might be what I needed the most.

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[Acquirable Power]

-Convicting Middle Finger of God

Power Yu Il-Shin earned by killing 100,000 ants of the imperial army with fire.

This power can be acquired upon obtaining a Fire-type power of a Low-tier God and above from the God’s Shop.

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In short, I could unlock innate powers through talent, experience, and the god’s alignment. I obtained Crushing Forefinger of God through playing the game, and Blind Eyes of God through my observation and curiosity of the ants.

If so, wouldn’t Convicting Middle Finger of God be a Fire-type power? After all, to unlock it, I had to obtain similar power from the God’s Shop.

“Convicting Middle Finger of God...”

Something about the name made me think that it’d be a great weapon for the upcoming disaster.

“Alright, I’ll buy the prerequisite power from the rewards I got from the title Brutal Killer.”

I carefully went through the catalog in the God’s Shop once more. Then, after two full hours of deliberation...

“I’ve decided.”

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[God’s Shop]

[Flames of Gehenna (Low-tier God)]

[Category: Exclusive Power for Malevolent Gods]

[Purchase Cost: 2,000,000 Gcoins]

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***

I was currently in a park near my house. As it was midnight, there was no one else beside me. Since it was the perfect place for me to try out my new power, I had no complaints.

I had purchased the power, Flames of Gehenna, from the God’s Shop. As the name suggested, it was a Fire-type power. Also, the word “Gehenna” rang a bell. Gehenna, from Jerusalem, referred to a hill where people would burn trash or evildoers. It also symbolized hell.

Wow, so, hellfire?

Sounded pretty intense to me.

[You have purchased the Flames of Gehenna.]

[Since it was purchased as a reward for the Brutal Killer title, no Gcoins were used.]

Kwaaa!

When I selected it, my entire body was engulfed in dark flames. Interestingly enough, it didn’t feel hot at all. At the same time, a voice echoed in my head, like sizzling oil.

-Kekeke, you’ve chosen my power—the power of the Ruler of Hell! I commend you for your astute judgment! You shall become the absolute ruler, reigning over all evils!

“Ohhh!”

I definitely felt it—I had hit the jackpot! With this, there was no way I’d lose! As soon as I purchased it, another message popped up.

Ding!

[You have met the requirements to acquire an innate power.]

[You can acquire the innate power, Convicting Middle Finger of God, by spending 100 Gcoins.]

[Would you like to acquire the power? (Yes/No)]

“Yes!” I yelled with enthusiasm.

Pzzz!

The 100-unit dark Gcoin in my hand crumbled into dust.

Ding!

[You have acquired an innate power.]

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[Convicting Middle Finger of God]

Category: Innate Power

Description: Yu Il-Shin’s innate power, activated with hellfire and 100,000 sacrifices.

The mighty Yu Il-Shin speaketh, "I’m the arbiter of all evil! Those who go against me will burn in the fires of hell!”

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Okay, those lines are just cringey.

Anyway, that was how I acquired a new innate power.

“Phew, shall we test it out then?”

I gathered my focus.

Thump! Thump!

My heart raced with excitement and anticipation. So far, nothing good ever happened to me since I started playing God-Maker. But this time, I had a relatively good feeling!

Raising my middle finger to the sky, I solemnly called out.

“Convicting Middle Finger of God!”