Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 435 - Play

Inside the portal.

Ethan and Roditon were on a cloud.

In the ever-changing scenery, Ethan and Roditon discovered a cloud with a round hole in it.

Below the cloud, they could see the ground, where something unsettling was taking place.

Boom!

The sounds of weapons clashing, shouts, and screams could be heard.

“What’s this…?”

“A war? Is a war happening?”

“I can’t make sense of it! We entered through one portal, then found another, and now there’s a war happening beneath the clouds? What are all those things anyway?”

Ethan was just as surprised.

To exaggerate a bit, Ethan could say he knew almost everything about MePan, except for a few things others didn’t know.

He had played through and cleared it several times in various ways.

But what he was seeing now was something even Ethan had never seen before.

The city of gods, and the battle unfolding on the ground below.

‘It’s quite large-scale. This is literally a war.’

The gods were waging war in the city of gods.

“…New World.”

While in New World, gods used their abilities to gather subscribers in the form of war, here the gods were directly using those abilities to wage war.

‘The similarity is that both are the gods’ play.’

Ethan closely observed the situation on the ground. Roditon, also quite shocked, couldn’t take his eyes off the scene below.

“…Teacher Ethan, from what I can judge, those humans down there don’t seem to be real humans.”

At Roditon’s words, Ethan also focused his gaze to examine closely.

The humans on the ground didn’t emit the unique life energy that humans should possess.

‘Roditon is right.’

Those weren’t humans. They were a kind of doll created by magic.

‘They look exactly like humans but have no life energy.’

It was as if they were playing with toy soldiers, creating human-like figures to wage war.

“Could the Saintess have been caught up in this play?”

“It seems so.”

‘What exactly were the 1st and 2nd Apostles trying to do here?’

Just then.

Kuung-!

Ethan sensed a presence behind him.

“New humans have entered. This is the most interesting situation in recent times.”

It was someone riding a cloud, looking almost like an immortal.

No, not a person.

“Are you a god?”

“Oh, I sense Moonforce’s power. Just before, someone who inherited Moon Mother’s power entered. Are the descendants of gods having an interesting power struggle? I’m very curious about the situation in the lower realm.”

Roditon immediately pulled out an artifact from his pocket.

Shaaaaak-.

“Oh, you have an interesting item. But it’s meaningless.”

The god riding the cloud began to spew flames, which were aimed directly at Ethan.

The speed was so fast that even though Roditon tried to respond, he was too late.

Bullet Time.

In the slowing time, Ethan focused solely on observing the god, not trying to avoid or counterattack.

This was the most crucial moment to turn everything around in this city of gods.

‘As Roditon said, the gods of MePan are arbitrary and don’t value human life much.’

But there was something they cared about.

‘It’s their true name. The true name is the most important thing to them. Just as humans have human laws, gods have their own laws.’

In the ritual of calling a god, the most important thing was calling their true name.

If you call their true name and make a wish, the god must grant it.

The closer the name called by the person performing the ritual is to the true name, the stronger the god becomes and the more influence they can exert on the human world.

‘They’re bound by such a covenant. The human world is a place that’s difficult for gods to intervene in. To receive help, you must say that name accurately. By doing so, they can intervene in the human world and give more power.’

Ethan had experience making contracts with various gods, not just Moonforce.

He had become their descendant, as he was now, and also became a believer of theirs.

Because of this, he knew many of MePan’s gods and was very familiar with their covenants and laws.

Contracting with Moonforce and the God of Thunder was Ethan’s choice based on this context.

Ethan continued to observe the god amidst the flames he was spewing.

To recall who he was.

To remember what his true name was.

‘Spewing flames, clouds, golden eyes.’

There weren’t enough clues yet.

Ethan decided to provoke him further.

‘I’ll draw out his characteristics.’

“A nameless god acting so arrogantly.”

Ethan stepped forward and drew his sword.

The easiest way to provoke a god was, of course, taunting. That is, if you could handle the aftermath.

‘I can handle it just fine.’

“Oh? The one who came before you prostrated himself. Said he desperately needed something. I let him join in on the fun game because he asked.”

The god smiled leisurely and stretched his hand towards Ethan.

“If you had done the same, I would have spared you.”

Hwararararuk-.

In an instant, flames more intense than before shot towards Ethan. Ethan was engulfed in the flames.

This time too, Ethan intentionally didn’t defend against the flames. Seeing Ethan engulfed in flames, Roditon gritted his teeth and immediately tried to extinguish the flames on Ethan.

But Ethan stopped Roditon. Then he just moved his lips to say it was okay.

‘I won’t die.’

Along with being engulfed in flames, a trait that hadn’t been activated for quite a long time activated.

-Gourmet trait activates!

-Status Ailment: You are in a burned state. As the Gourmet trait activates, your attack power and defense increase.

‘I knew it. The purpose of these flames isn’t to harm me.’

Because of that, he realized.

The moment he scattered the flames, his true name came to mind.

‘These flames are meant to intimidate from the start. He must have been upset by my provocation. He’s not just trying to kill me, but to inflict pain and kill me in despair. That’s why he used a technique with low power but high pain.’

It was a technique that made you feel like your whole body was burning along with the status ailment.

But this technique matched quite well with Ethan’s trait.

Hwararararuk-!

With flames still clinging to his entire body, Ethan took a step forward.

“Shophrobe Hyer.”

His true name was Shophrobe Hyer.

He was a god worshipped by a minority ethnic group.

He was one of several gods captured by the Dawn Council and had their powers stolen, and he had quite distinctive characteristics.

‘The chief of the minority ethnic group had a portrait of Shophrobe Hyer.’

It took a while to recall because he hadn’t seen it directly.

“!”

When his true name was called, Shophrobe Hyer, the god of flames and thieves, showed a surprised expression. Along with shock, there was also an expression of anger.

To that expression that seemed to ask how he knew, Ethan thoroughly hid his emotions.

Shophrobe Hyer must be curious.

How someone who wasn’t his believer, nor had they met before, could call his true name.

However, Ethan calmly raised his sword and pointed it.

“I didn’t come here to play games with you. I came here with a purpose.”

‘Just knowing the true name isn’t enough to subdue a god. It’s similar to putting one shackle on their foot.’

Strong gods are still strong even when shackled.

That’s why Ethan put strength into the tip of his Frost Sword.

If the god wants to play games.

They’ll do the same.

‘The advantage gods have is that they don’t die.’

Humans die.

Gods don’t die.

-Fenrir’s power is imbued!

But Ethan had the power to play games like them.

The power to kill gods.

As Fenrir’s power was imbued, Shophrobe Hyer was shocked.

Let’s say he could have found out the true name by whatever means.

But that was a power outside the norm.

It was a power that humans should never possess, which is why he unconsciously took a step back.

The cloud he had been riding was already gone.

‘Once you make them realize they could die, their composure disappears.’

“If you still want to play games…”

Ethan took a step forward, pressuring Shophrobe Hyer.

Shaaaaak-.

The power of Fenrir contained in the Frost Sword blocked all movements that Shophrobe Hyer could immediately choose.

“Shophrobe Hyer, shall we continue playing? Together?”

“You, you…!”

At that moment, the flames burning Ethan’s body went out. Shophrobe Hyer had withdrawn his ability.

“At least you’re perceptive.”

“What are you? How do you know my true name? No, what is that power?”

Shophrobe Hyer frowned. It had been a really long time.

To be afraid of death and take a step back.

But he couldn’t help it. The ominous energy emanating from Ethan’s sword contained enough power to tear apart not only himself but other divine beings as well.

On the contrary, Roditon and the Ego Sword couldn’t feel anything at all.

This power was only frightening to gods.

As Ethan took another step forward, Shophrobe Hyer retreated five steps in alarm.

“There’s a lot I want to know. Shall we have a long talk? If you don’t like that…”

Ethan gripped his sword tightly and took a stance as if he would strike at any moment. Shophrobe Hyer waved his hands hurriedly and took three steps forward. It seemed that was his limit, as cold sweat was forming on his forehead.

“No! No! Alright! Let’s talk. I was just thinking I wanted to talk too! What do you want! I’ll tell you everything! If there’s anything you’re curious about, I’ll tell you everything I know! So please, put that sword down first!”

“That’s fortunate. We’re on the same page.”

Ethan approached Shophrobe Hyer and very naturally put his arm around his shoulders.

Shophrobe Hyer paid attention to Ethan’s every movement.

That power he had just felt.

It was definitely a power that could kill gods.

Roditon was slightly confused by the sudden turn of events. He quickly understood the situation intellectually, but it was difficult to comprehend physically.

Roditon creaked like a broken golem.

“Umm.”

Somehow, Ethan looked unfamiliar.

“Uh, Teacher Ethan… sir?”

Roditon made an awkward expression as he watched Ethan overwhelm and subjugate the god.

After all, the Ethan he had been comfortable with until just now had suddenly subdued a god and put him beneath him.

“Please, call me comfortably, Sir Roditon.”

“Roditon is a free adventurer, but he’s weak to authority. Please understand, Teacher Ethan… sir!”

That sword had that master.