Darkness overtook him...…..
Then, a flood of memories not his own:
"Big brother, it hurts..."
"Just hold on, Mi-jin. I'll find a way to get that flower..."
"The treatment costs keep rising..."
"F-rank? But I tested for D-rank potential!"
"Crystal carriers don't need combat power..."
The Unknown God's consciousness stirred within Hang Young's body. The vessel was weak—pathetically so—but the soul that had inhabited it... that had been anything but weak.
[Void Sovereign System Initializing...]
[Host Body Configuration: In Progress]
[Warning: Critical Physical Damage Detected]
[Initiating Emergency Repairs]
The notifications blazed across his vision in void-black text. Interesting. The system itself resonated with traces of his original power—fragments he'd scattered across reality as fail-safes eons ago.
"RAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
The Hydra's roar shook the chamber, reminding him of more immediate concerns. The beast approached, all nine heads weaving hypnotic patterns, poison dripping from foot-long fangs.
[System Interface Activated]
[Current Status]
Rank: F Health: 12/100 [CRITICAL] Mana: 0/50 Void Energy: 0.001%
[Available Skills: None]
[Warning: Host Body Unsuitable for Divine Power Usage]
[Recalibrating...]
The Unknown God flexed Hang Young's fingers. The body felt like trying to pilot a universe using a rubber band and paperclips. Everything was so... limited.
How far I've fallen, he mused as the Hydra lunged. From reshaping reality to barely being able to—
[New Skill Unlocked: Void Sense Level 1]
[Ability: Detect traces of void energy within 10-meter radius]
[Notice: Skill resonates with host body's natural affinity]
Time seemed to slow. Through his newly awakened sense, he could see it—threads of void energy, barely visible, weaving through the chamber. The black crystals in the walls pulsed with familiar power.
His power.
The Hydra's center head struck like lightning, fangs aiming for his throat. In his divine form, he could have atomized the beast with a thought. In this pathetic mortal shell...
He sidestepped.
The movement was clumsy by his standards, but to human eyes, it would have appeared as a blur. The Hydra's head crashed into the crystal-studded wall behind him.
[Void Energy Trace Detected]
[Analyzing...]
[Warning: Portal Rank Shifting]
[SSS-Class Entity Detected Within Portal Matrix]
Of course, he thought, dodging another strike. These portals... they're built from fragments of my scattered power. Which means...
He reached out with his new sense, touching the nearest black crystal. Power thrummed through his borrowed body.
[Void Energy Absorption Possible]
[Warning: Host Body at Risk of Disintegration]
[Recommended Absorption: 0.0001% of Available Energy]
The Hydra reared back, all nine heads preparing to strike at once. Poison filled the air, melting stone where it dripped.
Limitations, the Unknown God mused. How... nostalgic.
He grabbed the crystal.
Pain exploded through every cell as void energy flooded his system. It felt like being torn apart and reconstructed at the quantum level. In a way, he was.
[Emergency Protocol Activated]
[Void Sovereign System Adapting...]
[New Skill Unlocked: Void Reinforcement Level 1]
Enhance physical capabilities using trace amounts of void energy Current Limit: 1% of base stats Duration: 3 seconds
[Warning: Further power absorption may result in permanent damage]
The Hydra struck.
Nine heads, moving faster than mortal eyes could track, attacked from every possible angle. Each fang carried enough poison to kill a hundred men. Each bite force could crush tanks.
The Unknown God smiled with Hang Young's lips.
Let me show you, he whispered as void energy coursed through his borrowed flesh, the difference between a beast and a god.
[Void Reinforcement Activated]
[Duration: 3 seconds]
[Portal Status Update: Reality Matrix Destabilizing]
He moved.
To the Hydra, it must have seemed like its prey had vanished. The Unknown God slid between the attacks like water through a sieve, each movement precise despite his body's limitations. Three seconds. He had three seconds to—
Pain.
A fang grazed his shoulder. Even that slight touch sent burning agony through his system.
[Health Status: 8/100]
[Critical Warning: Host Body Failing]
[Void Energy Reserves: Depleted]
[Recommendation: Immediate Retreat]
More memories flashed through his mind:
"Please, big brother... don't leave me alone..."
"The Night Lotus flower... only blooms in SS-rank portals..."
"Just hold on, Mi-jin. I promise..."
The Unknown God felt something unfamiliar stir in his borrowed heart. Was this... what mortals called emotion?
[System Alert: Unique Condition Detected]
[Host Soul Resonance: 0.1%]
[New Protocol Available...]
The Hydra gathered itself for another strike, but the Unknown God wasn't looking at it anymore. His attention was fixed on the system notification that just appeared:
[Warning: Portal Rank Shifting - SSS Class Entity Detected]
[Void Sovereign Authority Required]
[Current Status: Locked]
[Initialize Emergency Override? Y/N]
As consciousness began to fade from blood loss, the Unknown God made his choice.
"Y."
The chamber exploded in void-black light.