Subscriber of the Gods-Chapter 154: Apostle

-You have received a quest.

-You have cleared the quest!

-You have obtained a star fragment containing the power of the Moon Goddess Moonforce.

-Your fame increases!

-You have achieved an achievement!

-You have gained likes for achieving the [Great Thief] achievement.

-You have gained ‘2’ likes!

Ethan, who stole the star fragment, received and cleared the quest simultaneously.

Plus an achievement. He didn’t expect to get an achievement that could only be obtained by perfectly stealing the target.

‘Hong Gil-dong’s technique is certainly amazing. It’s a technique that truly suits the nickname Great Thief.’

Ethan recalled the feeling of stealing the star fragment.

“This might become a habit. I should be careful.”

With perfect techniques for stealing and the thrill of it, he might develop a penchant for theft that wasn’t in his nature.

Ethan looked at the star fragment he stole from the First Order.

This mineral, imbued with deep blue moon’s aura, was clearly Moonforce’s magic stone.

“This must have been taken from the temple the forest tribe mentioned.”

Seeing the magic stone containing Moonforce’s power, the temple in Misty Forest must surely be the temple of the Moon Goddess Moonforce.

Ethan recalled again the words of the elder he met at the entrance of Misty Forest.

They thought the temple was a place to worship the god who ruled the forest, not knowing that the god was the Moon Goddess.

‘They’re not followers of Moonforce. Which means…’

It meant they could be converted to this side at any time.

“I’ve obtained a precious item.”

This star fragment was of a different caliber from ordinary magic stones.

Unlike ordinary magic stones imbued with mana, it contained the power of a god, and the difference was that one could use that divine power intact.

‘With Moonforce’s power, they must have been able to continuously resist the heresy inquisitors.’

But now that the star fragment was in Ethan’s hands, they wouldn’t be able to overcome Jeryd and the other heresy inquisitors.

‘And the new inquisitors I trained shouldn’t die either.’

Ethan immediately used the star fragment.

-You can use the power of the Moon Goddess.

-You have met the conditions.

Crack-!

The star fragment shattered and began to be absorbed into Ethan.

“It’s originally the power of the Moon Goddess, after all.”

It was natural that Ethan, a descendant of Moonforce, could absorb it.

‘It’s my first time absorbing Moonforce’s magic stone though.’

Ethan was quite excited.

Shaaah-!

Moonforce’s power seeped into Ethan’s body.

-A new energy has been imbued in your body.

-You have gained moon’s aura.

-Due to a powerful curse, moon’s aura is being invaded!

“Damn it.”

Something began to writhe inside Ethan’s body.

-You have absorbed half of the power.

“This is really something.”

Since moon’s aura could substitute for mana, it seemed that Extinction took effect immediately.

But Ethan smiled instead.

“Getting even half is better than nothing, right? I can’t accumulate mana at all.”

Moon’s aura is a power that can substitute for mana.

‘I can use the techniques I learned in New World more actively.’

Above all, he could use Frost Thunder Swordsmanship more efficiently.

Moon Goddess Moonforce bestows her blessing upon you.

Whoosh-.

Ethan, who received another blessing, immediately headed towards the earthen cellar.

“The Apostle must be in here.”

Cold air was gushing out from the earthen cellar. It was the unique chill of Moonforce’s temple that Ethan knew very well.

“It’s definitely Moonforce’s temple.”

If so, what the Apostle came to get must be relics containing Moonforce’s power.

Considering that the Apostle hasn’t shown themselves yet, Moonforce’s relics must still be sleeping intact inside the temple.

There might even be more than that.

Ethan slowly entered the earthen cellar.

***

The Followers of the Moon, having lost the star fragment, collapsed miserably under the fierce attack of the heresy inquisitors.

Jeryd fought while meticulously checking the condition of the inquisitors, determined not to lose a single one in this battle.

‘Amazing.’

Education and actual combat are different.

Although Ethan had definitely trained them well, when it comes to actual combat, newcomers tend to forget what they’ve learned and move as they used to before.

‘It’s only been a week since they received training.’

Given the trait of the Inquisition where experienced individuals join for their own reasons, this was an inevitable aspect.

What’s ingrained in the newcomers’ instincts are things they’ve learned throughout their lives.

Mere week-long education is bound to fly out of their heads in such an urgent situation.

Jeryd also had to focus on watching the new inquisitors throughout the battle, taking this into account.

But that worry soon disappeared completely.

‘Thoroughly in groups of three. Not recklessly taking down Followers of the Moon at the risk of danger, but safely to the extent that it doesn’t affect the three-person team.’

The new inquisitors generally acted calmly and composedly.

Even though they had reason to be excited, they were calmly leading the fight.

‘Can they change this much in just a week?’

Jeryd looked at the new inquisitors with satisfaction. Could he still call them newcomers anymore?

While he could alleviate his worry about the newcomers, another concern arose. Ethan had been out of sight since just now.

‘The Apostle isn’t here.’

The reason they had avoided a head-on confrontation was precisely because of the Apostle.

‘Did he go to fight directly?’

If so, it would be no different from the Inquisition incurring another big debt.

‘But it’s too much alone.’

At least a few more veteran inquisitors, including himself, needed to join to increase the possibility of taking down the Apostle.

“Finish them off thoroughly and advance!”

***

Unlike other Moonforce temples, this place was full of cold air.

‘Something’s strange.’

As he went deeper inside, along with the cold air, another energy was mixing in, so his doubts gradually grew.

“Kieeek!”

Suddenly, a monster jumped out in front of Ethan.

[Lv 66]

‘It’s certain. Something is parasitizing the temple.’

Suddenly, he recalled the magic circle in the Moonforce temple he had visited before.

The Apostle must be the one parasitizing that something.

Ethan gripped the handles of Frost Sword and Thunder Sword.

“Dual-wielding is efficient for slaying monsters.”

Frost Thunder Swordsmanship.

Drawing the swords.

In an instant, the two drawn swords slashed the monster in a cross pattern.

Crack-!

Lightning and frost tore the monster apart in an instant.

‘Moon’s aura has been added.’

The moon’s aura absorbed from the star fragment added to Frost Thunder Swordsmanship, producing an even more powerful effect.

“The Moon Fragment enhances the power more than I expected.”

Ethan continued to advance.

How much further did he go inside?

“Kieeek!”

“Kyaeueueueurk!”

The cries of monsters began to be heard.

“P-please spare me, please.”

“You must stop! If you proceed any further, it will truly become irreversible!”

“The wrath of the god will descend!”

“God?”

Along with the voices of the forest tribe, a scratching voice was heard.

“Shall I reveal myself? I am a listener. I can hear what our mother, Moon Mother, says. Hmm, yes. Oh ho, she says no divine wrath or anything like that will descend?”

“What do you mean…!”

“An ancient god whose name is no longer remembered. All power is lost, and only the remnants remain. She says not even anything resembling divine wrath will descend, you forest trash.”

“Damn it…”

The forest tribe couldn’t refute even at these humiliating words.

‘They’re tied up.’

The one who seemed to be the Apostle had his back turned.

Ethan used Great Thief’s Mastery.

The guy didn’t notice this side. If so, he should carefully attack and end it in one go.

‘I have a technique that can kill in one shot.’

A prolonged fight would be disadvantageous.

Ethan slowly moved and stepped inside.

And then.

-Great Thief’s Mastery has been broken!

“…!”

Ethan frowned, momentarily flustered.

Deep blue flames flickered on the Apostle’s back. The Apostle, who had been showing his back, suddenly turned his head and looked at Ethan.

-Great Thief’s Mastery has been broken due to superhuman power. (+)[1]TLN: If you still remember, last time instead of using superhuman power, I used superpowers. Just wanted to tell you that I change the term a little bit.

-Superhuman power is constricting you!

The power that the Beast King had long ago was one of these superhuman powers.

Ethan frowned as soon as he confirmed the Apostle.

Twelve Apostles Luna Spirit.

An Apostle with various superhuman powers and a huge body, he was an Apostle who crushed everything with the overwhelming power emitted by his two large fists.

‘I didn’t expect Great Thief’s Mastery to be broken by superhuman power.’

“To evade my senses while being so close? There shouldn’t be such a guy among the heresy inquisitors. And the Combat Specials inquisitor shouldn’t be able to come here now.”

The Apostle asked while looking at Ethan.

“Who are you?”

In an instant, the Apostle’s figure disappeared.

Zzzzt-!

Ethan’s instincts stirred.

-Your survival probability temporarily decreases!

-Your survival probability temporarily decreases!

Messages saying that the survival probability was decreasing kept appearing. At the same time, intense pain rushed to Ethan’s eyes.

The Apostle’s movements should be clearly visible due to the effect of Bullet Time.

Even in the slowed time, the speed of Twelve Apostles Luna Spirit was overwhelming.

His fist rushed straight towards Ethan.

Kwaaang-!

Ethan, who instinctively drew and swung the Thunder Sword, blocked Luna Spirit’s fist. But the aftermath was tremendous.

“…!”

Ethan frowned. The sword and fist had clearly collided, but.

-Moonlight Defense has been cast.

-Absorbing damage.

-The absorbed damage has exceeded the limit.

‘Moonlight Defense has been broken. At the same time, Supreme Resilience has reached its limit too.’

“Interesting technique.”

The Apostle glared at Ethan while rotating his wrist.

“Run away!”

“Th-that person is an Apostle! One of the twelve said to be the strongest among the Followers of the Moon…”

“Quiet.”

When the Apostle swung his hand towards the elf, the elf collapsed bleeding.

“Kuhek…”

“It’s been a while since someone withstood my attack. I swung intending to kill in one blow.”

Ethan frowned.

‘Is the difference this big?’

He realized anew how strong a curse Extinction was. Even after building up this much.

However, Ethan didn’t despair. He still had plenty of cards left to play.

Crackle-.

The successor of the moon and the Lightning Guardian, the two powers that could be considered the best in MePan for offense and defense.

Moreover, with the abilities of the gods gained from New World, even if there was a gap, there was enough power to overturn that gap.

“Yes, that’s how you should come at me. You didn’t come this far with half-baked skills. Did you come knowing I was here in the first place? Come at me till the end. Moon Mother would be pleased if I offer you as a sacrifice.”

One of the Twelve Apostles extended his fist again.

Ethan’s eyes hurt, but he could clearly see the movement of the fist he had seen once before.

‘Dodge and!’

And he tried to move to counterattack immediately. But at that moment, faced with the Twelve Apostles’ fist that bent like a snake, Ethan had no choice but to take a defensive stance again.

Kwaaang-!

-Your HP has fallen below 10%.

-The trait of the undying flower activates!

‘This is crazy!’

If you take damage even when blocking, what’s the point of blocking?

“Charge Up.”

Ethan immediately used Charge Up. Lightning that seemed like it would burn everything enveloped Ethan’s body.

“Ice and lightning. A combination I’ve never experienced before.”

The Apostle grinned and lowered his stance.

‘All that’s left is Charge Up.’

He didn’t think the defensive techniques he had built up until now would be broken so easily.

-Your survival probability temporarily decreases.

-Your survival probability temporarily decreases.

‘Something big is coming!’

He can’t dodge.

And he takes damage even if he blocks.

Ethan clicked his tongue. His mind was in chaos. No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t think of a way to escape this crisis.

There was only one option left.

To use Wind Cloud to escape.

But escaping here was a meaningless action.

-Hero’s Breathing activates.

-Due to Chiron’s teaching, you become immune to all mental attacks.

‘Ah.’

Suddenly, Ethan’s mind cleared.

As his breathing, which had been heightened by tension, returned to stability, he was able to calmly view the situation again.

‘I knew it, but… The superhuman power is certainly scary.’

It was because of the pressure, one of the superhuman powers that the Twelve Apostles possessed, that he couldn’t make proper judgments.

Of course, just because his mind cleared doesn’t mean the situation immediately changed.

Swoosh-!

A powerful strike from the Twelve Apostles flew in. It looked similar to the previous fist, but this one was even faster and had an aura wrapped around the fist.

This would be the end even if he blocked. He had to dodge at all costs.

‘First, dodge somehow!’

Ethan tried with all his might to avoid the Apostle’s fist.

But at that moment, the Apostle twisted his upper body. Then, as if pulling out his shoulder, he extended his arm long, completely blocking any possibility of dodging.

‘No.’

Ethan gritted his teeth.

-A trial is bestowed upon you.

-Trial: Twelve Apostles Luna Spirit.

-Hero’s Breathing exerts powerful strength limited to this trial.

‘Trial?’

Hercules became a hero through twelve trials.

The Hero’s Breathing learned from him seemed to have hidden power to counter trials.

Feeling his body lighten in an instant, Ethan narrowly blocked the attack while simultaneously deflecting the shock and stepping back.

“To dodge like that! You still had something hidden.”

The decrease in survival probability due to the Apostle was recognized as Ethan’s trial.

“Yes… I’ve come too easily until now.”

Ethan took a deep breath.

This is a trial. A trial that can be advanced one step if overcome.

Ethan raised his power in one breath along with his breathing while simultaneously awakening other powers he possessed.

Counter-Radiance, and Willpower.

Strength capable of uprooting mountains and powerful strength that could cover the world.

The power of Hercules and the power of Hang Woo dwelled in Ethan’s hands.

Frost Thunder Swordsmanship.

Frost Thunder Flash Blade – Moonforce.

Ethan became a streak of lightning.

Author's Thoughts

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