Chapter 311

Chapter 311: I Am Enough on My Own!

"Whoosh… Hiss… Whoosh… Hiss…"

The tall figure in gray sat in the spacious pipes, breathing deeply.

It was strange; even though there was no air here, he could breathe easily.

"Am I breathing in magical elements?"

"How amazing."

His eyes, visible through the goggles on his helmet, looked at his hand.

"Ka—!"

He clenched his fingers into a fist, and the magic rushing through his veins gave him huge energy; he felt he could turn his body and equipment into wind from the void, slipping through the thick pipe walls and moving fast through the endless muscle layers of the "host" to reach another place.

"Is this also the Giant God’s gift?"

"Great is the Giant God!"

"Whoosh…"

He took a deep breath and pushed his great sword with a "thud" into the pipe wall, starting his prayer.

Of course, the sword made some liquid leak out, but he couldn’t control that.

Just then…

"Help!"

"Strange beings are attacking!"

"Weren’t there supposed to be Chosen Ones warriors with us!?"

"Where are they!?"

A group in protective suits stumbled toward him; they wore light armor.

Also, the armor was sturdy but more for "labor protection" than combat.

They were the engineers.

The gray figure didn’t blame them for being weak.

Though poor in combat, they had great knowledge and skills as mortals.

Mortals didn’t have endless time like gods; mastering one thing in life was already a big success.

Plus, even with weak combat power, they stayed loyal followers of the Giant God.

Finally, these mortals saw the gray figure kneeling on the ground, almost blending with the pipe corner.

"Thank heaven!"

"Finally, we found a Chosen Warrior!"

"Hello, where are the other Chosen Ones warriors?"

"Some strange fellows broke in."

"Good thing I didn’t run too fast, otherwise…"

"Ah——!"

The engineer’s explanation was interrupted by a scream!

"Hiss…"

"Ka—Roar—Roar—Roar—Roar—!"

A fierce and brutal roar erupted!

Worms formed from micro divine ranks rushed in!

A surge of black will began to spread continuously within the pipes!

"Um…"

The engineers looked nervously at the "gray figure," noticing that this "canned one" wore armor slightly different from that of a typical Chosen Warrior.

It was larger and felt heavier.

Like the cloak on his back, the entire armor shimmered silver-gray, reflecting magical auras in the dim pipes.

"Ashen Knight!"

"It’s an Ashen Knight!"

"Wonderful! We have an Ashen Knight working with us here, so we have nothing to fear!"

"Yes! Esteemed ‘Ashen Knight,’ how many companions did you bring?"

The Ashen Knight looked up at the engineers, a puzzled light shining through his goggles as he glanced around.

He seemed to say, "Can’t you see how many I brought?"

The engineers scanned the area and saw no other Ashen Knights.

"Uh…"

"Then are there warriors from the Solar Knight, Death Legion, Jungle Lizard, or First Paratroopers here too?"

The Ashen Knight shrugged.

His meaning was clear—All the Chosen Warriors are here; you handle it.

Indeed, it was strange; inside this "Shallow Ether Wanderer," only one Chosen Warrior had been accommodated—this Ashen Knight before them.

"This… what do we do now!"

"How can you handle this alone!"

"Ugh, we’re doomed…"

The engineers complained, covering their heads, lamenting their misfortune.

Of course, they had to stop complaining because…

"Roar—Roar—Roar—!"

Black fog drifted from the distance, and this time, these "micro divine ranks" went all out!

They advanced while deconstructing the surrounding Divine Bodies, then used the nutrients to reconstruct their forms!

"Boom—Boom—Boom—!"

The ground shook.

The enormous "pipes" kept collapsing!

"Ah!"

The leading engineer stomped his foot, grabbed the Ashen Knight, and tried to run.

"What are you standing around for?"

"You can’t do this alone…"

"Hey, don’t be stupid!"

"You can’t beat them!"

"Wake up!"

The engineer saw he couldn’t move the Ashen Knight no matter how hard he pulled, so he slapped the Ashen Knight’s helmet hard, trying to wake him.

But the Ashen Knight took off his helmet, showing a stern face with a square jaw covered in stubble.

"Hiss…"

The great sword trembled, answered its master’s call, and flew into his hand.

"Are you mistaken?"

The Ashen Knight walked toward the micro divine ranks that were building their bodies.

"To deal with these weak foes, I alone am enough!"

—-

"Destruction!"

"Kill!"

"Ka Ka Ka——!"

The micro divine ranks came from Endless Ether and were small pieces of divine rank after gods fell.

Most divine ranks that broke from the Soul were eaten by hunting gods to grow stronger or dropped into the Abyss to feed it.

But a small part kept the hate and anger of fallen gods, refusing to be taken over.

They became "micro divine ranks" with a big urge to destroy.

These things were deadly, but many gods in Endless Ether used magic to handle them and turn them into weapons.

The Ether Cod Deities were one group.

When their Sharp Teeth worked with the micro divine ranks, any god who dared fight them had to be careful!

In battle, they made powerful weapons!

Just like now!

"Revenge!"

"My hatred burns!"

These micro divine ranks had lost all memory of their old masters and forgot any past grudges, but the rage from their hate never faded.

"Reconstruct!"

"Zzzz…"

"Boom…"

Surrounding divine tissues disintegrated under the micro divine ranks’ tyranny, forcibly reshaped into their bodies.

A serpent-like creature charged toward the hired "Chosen Warriors" and "Damage Controllers" while still growing!

Only one man confronted them!

His gray cloak fluttered gently as the greatsword gleamed with magical light in dim pipelines.

Helmet removed, his square-jawed face showed no panic.

Instead, it radiated confidence and excitement.

Thick lips moved as if speaking.

Had the micro divine ranks understood lip-reading, they’d have deciphered:

"Against these worthless foes, I alone suffice!"

"Because…"

"My name is Glade!"

He raised the greatsword high!

"Blood sacrifice for the Giant God! Offerings to the divine throne!"

"Slash!"

"Boom——!"

—-

"Hiss…"

"This sensation…"

"Feels… unpleasant."

Shallow Ether Wanderers swung colossal divine bodies, drifting through Ether Cod Deities while hunting.

The mark’s influence had faded considerably, rationality partially returning.

Yet Hunger compelled their battle against Ether Cod Deities; having already engaged, retreat would forfeit their advantage and invite relentless attacks.

The die was cast.

Even as their bodies suffered micro divine ranks’ corruption.

Moreover…

"Not as dire as imagined…"

Shallow Ether Wanderers found their pact with the massive god effective!

Though body parts still throbbed intermittently—sometimes sharply, even with odd "burning sensations"—worse outcomes were avoided.

Most deity organs functioned normally, magic circuits operated unimpeded, reaction speeds slightly reduced yet combat-capable!

Even in the end, the Hunger overcame the discomfort within their bodies, driving Them to fight harder and harder.

What surprised Them even more was…

"The wounds were healing!"

"Though this sharpened our hunger and forced us to devour more Shallow Ether Wanderers, it was absolutely worth it!"

"That Giant God truly is a ‘great massive god’ worthy of cooperation and loyalty!"

Having gained immunity to the terrible effects of enemy attacks, what more was there to say?

Having confirmed the Giant God’s value, why hesitate any longer!?

"Blood sacrifice for the Giant God! Flesh offering upon the altar!"

"Roar—!"

The increasingly ferocious assault began. The Ether Cod Deities couldn’t withstand this frenzied onslaught.

Even Barbatos couldn’t mend their crumbling consensus.

Finally…

"Retreat—!"

"We can’t fight this!"

"Mercy! Mercy!"

…

The Ether Cod Deities still shared a consensus, but it had flipped completely!

Flight became their sole unified purpose!

Meanwhile, in the distant Fantasy Tree of Subspace…

"Pfft…"

The First Demon God Barbatos spat another mouthful of his blood.

And within the leader of the Shallow Ether Wanderers…

"Whew…"

"Done…"

Glade exhaled a breath of murky air, addressing the stunned engineers: "Uh… Didn’t quite control the power. Got a bit carried away."

"Your turn to handle the cleanup."

Before them lay divine flesh cleaved by a massive sword wound, alongside remnants of the micro divine ranks—nearly incinerated by the abundant Holy Light from the Sun.

Powerless, they sizzled on the ground, dissolving into black particles that evaporated into nothingness.