Chapter 2

Since I was little.

— You are really stubborn, Kim Jeongseok.

I had a stubborn personality.

If I became obsessed with something, I would see it through to the end.

Because of that, I was often told that I was narrow-minded and inflexible.

— You’re going to draw magic circles all over the world?

— What the hell is the Philosopher’s Stone?

— Do you really think it’s worth mobilizing so many people for this?

Everyone was negative.

They didn’t join my plan.

It’s natural. I understand.

The world was being destroyed.

And everyone was too busy trying to survive.

Even so, after desperate persuasion.

For more than 10 years, I managed to draw a single magic circle in the world.

The number of people mobilized was 27,384.

And every one of them was extraordinary.

They were people who had reached the top in their respective fields.

— That’s enough, Jeongseok.

— Our country is collapsing!

— How long are you going to cling to something so useless?

Endless disasters.

Monsters overflowing.

Days stained with screams and despair.

Amid all the criticism, I continued drawing the magic circle without hesitation.

There was only one objective.

To destroy the tower.

Because those bastards who brought us to this also had to experience the same thing.

Even if it meant tearing off their arms and legs, that would already be a victory.

We wanted them to clearly understand that if we died, they wouldn’t come out unscathed either.

That’s why.

‘Let’s all die together.’

I detonated the completed Philosopher’s Stone.

The tower exploded along with the Earth.

Irresistible was also destroyed.

When everything returned to nothing.

Ding!

A message appeared before my eyes.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Everything had ended with everyone’s death—what did titles or awakenings matter now?

But something was strange.

Another window suddenly appeared.

[Do you wish to create a character?]

Create a character?

I couldn’t understand it.

This isn’t a game, what the hell…?

Even so, it was necessary to investigate this phenomenon.

It was a message that appeared after killing the Absolute God, Irresistible, and destroying the Earth.

‘I’ll create it.’

I nodded, and another window appeared.

[‘The most powerful disaster’ has entered.]

[Available Soul Points (SP): 100,000,000]

[You can increase ‘talents’ with SP.]

[The talents you can increase are the following:]

【Light】【Darkness】

【Fire】【Water】【Earth】【Wind】【Air】

【Sorcery】【Taoism】【Dark Arts】【Illusion】【Spiritualism】

【Alchemy】【Divination】【Necromancy】

【Spiritualism】【Summoning】【Creation】

【Void】【Nothingness】【Space】【Shadow】

…….

What is this?

The list had no end.

The talents that could be raised were practically unlimited.

I understood it instinctively.

‘The talents that are assigned to a character at the start of a game.’

It could be said it was like an RPG.

I could define the character’s talents.

In other words, I had to invest according to the direction I wanted to develop it.

But.

‘They gave me 100 million points. That means I can raise talents 100 million times.’

Why?

Why did they give me 100 million points?

It is undoubtedly an enormous amount.

‘Could it be because I destroyed Irresistible?’

Irresistible.

That which cannot be resisted.

Is it the reward for destroying a being absolutely impossible to kill?

‘…I don’t know what’s happening, but one thing is certain.’

I cannot ignore this phenomenon.

As a mage, as a researcher, my instincts were screaming.

A turning point.

Maybe I could finally reach the truth I never achieved in my entire life.

I used SP to increase talents.

[1 SP is consumed in the talent 【Light】.]

[1 SP is consumed in the talent 【Light】.]

…….

[It cannot be increased further.]

[The maximum of 【Light】 is 10,000.]

And I understood.

‘The maximum value of a talent is 10,000. That means…’

It means I can max out 10,000 talents.

The problem is.

‘There aren’t 10,000 talents.’

At most, there are about 1,000.

Even if I raise them all, I only spend 10,000,000.

90 million SP remain.

I stroked my chin for a moment.

These classifications.

They are familiar to me.

‘…All the attributes, arts, and subcategories of magic.’

What I tried to learn and abandoned.

All those categories that were too vast to even touch are here.

There were even things I didn’t know.

But even so, everything only adds up to 10 million.

I moved my fingers quickly.

How much time passed.

[Incredible! Astonishing!]

[All talents are at maximum!]

[You have achieved the hidden piece ‘Unprecedented’.]

[The remaining Soul Points will be assigned randomly.]

[Includes ‘non-assignable’ abilities such as racial values, innate limits, luck, charm, and charisma.]

…Wasn’t SP only for raising talents?

It seems there are also additional talents that cannot be seen or raised by normal methods.

But I didn’t have time to think about it further.

[Character creation complete.]

[Logging into the land of the gods, ‘Asgard’.]

[You will be able to log out upon leveling up.]

My vision flickered.

***

…Where am I?

“I-it’s a disaster!”

“The god of disaster is furious!”

“Everyone, run!”

There was chaos.

People in golden armor were running in all directions.

And I.

‘Chains?’

I was bound.

And also locked up.

It seemed I was being transported somewhere.

There were quite a few people like me around.

The problem was that those escorting us were too busy fleeing.

And above all.

“S-save me!”

“It’s the Typhoon of Massacre!”

“We’re all going to die!”

The prisoners were shouting too.

They trembled, crying in despair.

Rumble! Boooooom!

A gigantic typhoon was approaching.

Just as its name indicated.

Devastating everything in its path.

I looked at my body.

‘It’s similar, but different.’

It is my body, but it isn’t.

I could move it however I wanted, but it definitely was not Kim Jeongseok’s body.

It was much larger and stronger.

Over 2 meters tall.

Firm muscles.

Even my hair was a bright golden color.

If I had a mirror, I could see it better.

But even with what little I could observe, I couldn’t define this body as Kim Jeongseok.

I don’t know where I am or what is happening.

But one thing is certain.

‘Why am I so calm?’

It is strangely calm.

I don’t feel confused at all.

Nor am I terrified like them.

On the contrary, I accepted the situation faster than anyone.

This place right now is.

‘Asgard.’

The land of the gods, Asgard.

I clearly saw the message that said the character was created and that I logged in there.

In other words, this body is the character I created.

So, am I inside a game?

‘It’s too real to be a game.’

The sense of reality is overwhelming.

All my senses said it.

That it is not a game.

That it is reality.

‘A god of disaster. The Typhoon of Massacre.’

Those who were fleeing while shouting said it in unison.

That the god of disaster was furious.

They even gave that typhoon a name.

No, that’s not it.

I know that typhoon.

A long time ago. In a distant past.

…I’m sure I’ve seen one just like it.

One of the powers used by one of the strongest gods who ruled the tower.

But it’s strange.

We brought down the tower and destroyed Irresistible.

Are the gods of disaster still alive?

‘We always wondered where those who built the tower on Earth came from.’

Soon, I faced a truth.

‘…So this Asgard is the land of those bastards.’

Asgard, the land of the gods!

Just as its name indicates, this is the
‘home’ where they lived.

I nodded as soon as I understood.

I stood up.

And then.

Crack!

I applied force and broke the chains.

Creeeak!

I bent the iron bars with both hands.
Strength overflowed. I feel like I can do anything.

If this is the character I created.

If it is that character whose talents I pushed to the limit.

And if all the messages I saw are true—

‘Status.’

Ding!

Level: 1

Class: Devourer of Disasters

Strength: 50 Vitality: 50 Agility: 50

Intelligence: 50 Mana: 50

Titles: Killer of the Absolute God, Supreme Disaster, Omnipotent

Just as I expected.

No, it was even more than I imagined.

Literally.

‘A monster.’

The maximum value a human can have at level 1 is, at most, 10.

And it’s not even possible to have all attributes at 10.

But this guy.

From the start, he has all attributes at 50.

Considering that the normal maximum level is 10, it’s an absurd figure.

Moreover.

‘Right now I am in a logged-in state.’

In the avatar I created.

That means this is not my real body.

‘They said I need to level up to log out. If I log out, will I return to reality?’

Log out and return to reality.

And if reality for me is…

‘…Can I return to Earth?’

It can only be Earth.

Will I return to my body, Kim Jeongseok’s?

I opened the palm of my right hand.

‘A golden rune.’

For a while now, I had been feeling something strange in my hand.

More precisely, since that typhoon appeared.

It seems the cause was this golden rune.

The glowing letters react to the typhoon.

‘Devourer of Disasters.’

I understood this naturally as well.

I am a mage.

Someone who seeks the truth and approaches the laws of the world.

By seeing something, I can understand its essence.

Logically, the best course would be to run away right now.

But.

‘Let’s do it.’

After all, I already died once.

I am the crazy mage who tried to destroy the Earth and the tower at the same time.

“I-is that guy insane?”

“He’s approaching the Typhoon of Massacre!”

The prisoners shouted.

Just as they said, I was walking toward the typhoon.

And the moment the typhoon devoured me—

Woooooosh—

The golden rune in my palm reacted.

And then.

Suuuuuu—

It was absorbed.

As if I devoured it.

Shortly after.

“…T-the typhoon disappeared?”

“That can’t be!”

The world fell silent.

[You have devoured the ‘Typhoon of Massacre’.]

[You can use the ‘Typhoon of Massacre’.]

An extremely simple message.

But it didn’t end there.

Krrrrrrr—

Suddenly, the sky turned black.

Boom!

At the same time, a dark lightning bolt struck in front of me.

“…Interesting.”

A man appeared.

I knew it the moment I saw him.

This guy is—

‘A god of disaster.’

The god who had sent that typhoon.

And moreover.

‘I can’t defeat him.’

I have to run.

My instincts screamed desperately.

But I can’t run.

If I turn my back, he will kill me.

Then the man spoke.

“Are you a child of god?”

A child of god?

I thought about it for a moment.

He was expecting an answer.

He was probably doubtful because of what I had just done.

Should I act arrogantly or pretend to submit?

‘A mediocre performance won’t work.’

The opponent is a god.

And not just any god, but a god of disaster.

It’s better to show myself as I am.

“I completed my full military service and was discharged.”

“……?”

Ah. Was that not what he meant?

“…It’s a joke. What do you mean, child of god?”

The man replied, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“What a ridiculous guy. To dare joke in front of me.”

Certainly.

Since he appeared, the world had gone silent.

Not even the breathing of those behind could be heard.

Everyone was paralyzed with fear.

Only I stood before him.

It wasn’t strange that he found it curious.

The man shook his head once and spoke.

“Go to the tower. If you really are a child of god, you must go through the process of becoming a god in the tower.”

“……?”

“Don’t you know? The Tower of the Gods. The tower where beings like us can become true gods.”

The man shrugged.

“Judging by the fact that you eliminated my typhoon, you have quite a bit of talent. When you climb the tower, come find me.”

“And how am I supposed to find you if I don’t know your name?”

“…Your insolence has been reaching the heavens for a while now. Do you want to die?”

Swooooosh—

The wind rose again around us.

But I didn’t look away.

I didn’t feel fear at all.

Everything was calm. Even my heart.

This body does not fear a god of disaster.

Not in the slightest.

And besides, I have already seen the end.

My experience and mental strength remain intact.

“…You.”

After I didn’t avert my gaze for so long, the man shone with interest.

“I like you.”

He smiled faintly and continued.

“I am the god of the typhoon and the ruler of all things. Heimdall.”

“……”

…Wait.

Heimdall, the god of the typhoon?

I know that name.

He was one of the gods of disaster that existed in the tower.

And one of those at the top.

Only I knew their names.

‘In the ancient book that contained the method to create the Philosopher’s Stone, the names of the gods of disaster were also written.’

So the other gods are still alive?

Did they really receive no damage?

I asked desperately.

“What happened to the Earth? Was it destroyed?”

“Hmm? It’s still intact. It’s probably in the protection period.”

Intact?

…Even in the protection period?

The gods who invaded Earth.

They didn’t destroy it immediately.

Especially, they called the first year the protection period, during which they gradually awakened humanity.

Then.

‘Could it be…?’

A possibility crossed my mind.

‘Regression?’

Have I gone back in time?

But something is still strange.

If I regressed, why didn’t I return to Kim Jeongseok’s body?

Why did I start by creating a character in Asgard?

‘It seems I have to log out to understand everything.’

I took a deep breath.

And asked my final question.

“Then, is Irresistible also in the Tower of the Gods?”

The moment I mentioned that name—

Heimdall frowned.

He, who had remained calm despite my insolent attitude, spoke with a heavy tone he hadn’t shown before.

“…How is it that you know the name of that entity?”