The message I received was simple: an angel was summoning me. I’d been called dozens, maybe hundreds of times before, so it wasn’t exactly shocking.
The problem was, this wasn’t a summons as a mercenary lord, but as the Guardian of the Northern Continent. That could happen, sure, but something about it felt off.
Why send a divine command at this late hour, demanding I come immediately? And why summon me not to the usual summoning chamber, but to an independent space called Heaven? On top of that, all the angels were gathered there.
A dozen theories flashed through my mind, but none felt certain. I just had a gut feeling that this was going to be a hassle. Hoping it wouldn’t be too troublesome, I quickened my pace.
But then—
I got a sudden, uneasy feeling the moment I stepped into the summoning chamber.
“User Kim Suhyun.”
The voice wasn’t the usual calm and soothing tone. The seraph wasn’t sitting at the altar either. Instead, they stood by a glowing portal I’d never seen before. Most unsettling of all were their eyes—they trembled noticeably as they looked at me.
“Su… Suhyun…”
They opened their mouth as if to say something urgent, then closed it again, repeating this several times. Their demeanor felt distant, unlike usual. And the shadow of anxiety on their face was more pronounced than ever, making me uneasy for no clear reason. That vague premonition I’d sensed earlier began to solidify: something had gone seriously wrong.
“Suhyun…”
The voice calling me now was unbearably pitiful. Was it just my imagination, or did it sound like a desperate plea?
I didn’t know. I’d find out once I stepped through.
“Do I just go through that portal?”
I pointed at the shimmering gateway. The seraph flinched and tilted their head back in surprise. Why were they startled?
“You said you’re waiting in Heaven.”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
“Then I should get going. Oh, are you coming too?”
“…Yes. I am.”
The seraph nodded weakly, a bit slow to respond. My unease deepened, but I steeled myself and stepped into the portal.
Moments later—
The blinding light that had filled my vision faded, and my sight gradually returned. The scenery was completely different. The ground was still a dull gray, but the space stretched out vastly, like an expanded version of the summoning chamber without a ceiling.
“…Huh?”
Then I felt it: countless eyes watching me from every direction. The sight of so many angels floating in orderly rows through the air was breathtaking—almost majestic.
So this was the independent space called Heaven.
“Welcome, User Kim Suhyun. No, Guardian of the Northern Continent.”
At that moment, a melodious voice rang in my ears—pleasant, yet somehow unsettling. Glancing up, I saw a group of angels slowly descending. Even without a close look, I could tell they were the Four Archangels, led by Gabriel.
Waiting for their descent to finish, I spoke quietly.
“I heard it’s urgent. What’s going on?”
“…”
“Speak up. Don’t tell me it’s another issue with the Western Continent?”
“…”
Why were they like this? Why was no one answering?
The heavy silence was suffocating. I thought it best to get straight to the point, but not a single one spoke. What on earth had happened?
Just like with the seraph, Gabriel’s attitude was awkward. This wasn’t a joke. Gabriel’s usual sly smile was nowhere to be seen; instead, his face was cold and rigid, like ice. At times, he even looked furious.
Then, slowly, I began to notice the atmosphere around us. The silence was eerie, almost oppressive.
Yet, why did I sense a restless undercurrent? Maybe it was just my imagination, but the tension was palpable.
“No. No, that can’t be.”
Just as I was about to ask again, Gabriel finally broke the silence.
“Huuuu…”
He sighed as if the weight of the world was crushing him, then straightened up and continued.
“This time, it’s the Southern Continent.”
“The Southern Continent?”
“Yeah. No, wait. Let’s see the report first. That’s better.”
“…?”
Snap!
A translucent screen appeared before my eyes. Before I could even voice my questions, the rectangular silver screen began playing a blurry video.
The first thing I saw was a massive crowd gathered around a white temple. Then, a girl trudging down white steps.
She looked shabby. Her dazzling blonde hair was tangled and messy, and her armor was filthy, stained with some kind of liquid. Her golden eyes seemed strangely hollow… Huh?
Wait a minute, that face looked familiar. Blonde hair, golden eyes, and a greatsword wrapped in white cloth. This user is…?
That was the moment I almost blurted out “Eldora,” but I held back just in time.
Suddenly aware of a piercing gaze, I forced myself to focus on the video. No, I had to.
For reasons I didn’t understand, the woman in the footage was definitely Eldora. How could I forget? Guardian of the Southern Continent, clan lord of Odin. But why was she…?
Just then, a dark, shadowy figure appeared in the video, looming over the scene. Moments later, someone slipped in behind Eldora, walking beside her.
I squinted to see who it was.
“!”
My vision blurred sharply.
My mind went blank.
“Mu…”
Right now… I’m…
“…Huh?”
Am I seeing things?
“The one walking beside her… well, you can tell just by looking—it’s a demon.”
“G-Gabriel?”
“His true name is Lucifer. Also known as the Fallen Angel, one of the Seven Great Demons. A major player.”
“N-No, wait a minute.”
I know who that is. There’s no way I wouldn’t. But the question is, why is he walking right next to Eldora? And openly, in the Holy Plain?
I closed my eyes several times, but the scene didn’t change.
Then—
“Everyone.”
Eldora stopped walking in the video.
“Please listen to me.”
Snap!
The video cut off abruptly, replaced by static noise. I just stared blankly at the screen, feeling hollow inside. The crackling white noise filled the room.
“…This happened eight days ago.”
Gabriel’s voice drifted through the haze like a dream.
The explanation that followed was simple, yet so unbelievable it felt like a cruel joke.
The Southern Continent had fallen into the hands of demons. The users there had allied with demons and rebelled against the angels.
It took me a long time just to process it, let alone accept it.
My head was spinning. I was confused.
No.
I couldn’t believe it.
“A joke…”
I wanted to ask if this was some kind of prank. The words were stuck in my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them. The setting, their expressions, and the fact that I was here—all proof this was no joke.
How much time had passed?
When I finally managed to accept it, my breath was trembling. My vision and hands shook. Every sense I had was unsteady.
But it wasn’t just shock.
Not to brag, but I thought I’d handled things well so far. I’d anticipated and prepared for many scenarios. Sometimes luck was on my side. In the end, the demons’ plans had been crushed beyond expectation. I’d even hoped they might give up on the Zero Code.
And yet, here we were.
A damn variable had appeared at the last moment.
“…So.”
But I held back. No, I had to.
I still didn’t know the full story or the circumstances. The Southern Continent users weren’t fools; I couldn’t believe they’d just switch sides like that. But the fact was, it had happened. And blaming anyone now was pointless.
“So what do you want me to do…?”
“I want you to go to the Southern Continent.”
Gabriel said it without changing his expression. I barely caught myself from losing my mind. Damn it, why was my vision warping again?
“Why… the Southern Continent?”
I gritted my teeth and asked, but Gabriel stayed silent. Honestly, I didn’t need an answer. It was obvious: the demons had appeared, so I was supposed to wipe them out. The Southern Continent included.
Sigh… calm down. First, I needed information.
“What’s the current situation there?”
“…I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“After the incident, all connections to the Southern Continent were cut off. We barely got that video.”
Damn it. I had to hold it in, but my insides were boiling. It felt like swallowing a volcano about to erupt. I wanted to smash that calm face right now.
“It can’t be helped.”
“What?”
“Sure, it hurts to be hit like this… but maybe it’s a good opportunity.”
“A good… opportunity?”
Was this really the time to say that? Or was he just rambling whatever came to mind?
“Oh, right. A good opportunity.”
“…Kim Suhyun?”
“Alright. Since things have come to this, why don’t you guys just come out to the whole plain? Huh? The demons came out, didn’t they?”
“……”
It was said in a fit of anger. I knew they’d never actually come out. But ironically, from the user’s perspective, it was the most effective move in this situation.
“What do you mean by that?”
Gabriel squinted his eyes and asked.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. The demons came out, so you should come out too. That’s all there is to it.”
I stared him down.
But he said nothing, showed no reaction.
Just as I thought.
“Why so quiet? You could come out and head to the southern continent. While the angels hold off the demons, we humans advance to the divine continent. Isn’t that the most reasonable response?”
“……”
“If you don’t like it, we can switch roles. How about that?”
I looked around, asking. But the reactions were all about the same—some lowered their eyes subtly, others scoffed in disbelief.
“…Hah.”
That damn reaction made me sigh involuntarily.
“Haha. You really can’t do that, huh? You just stand there, doing nothing but spouting nonsense, and then expect us to clean up after you. Hahaha.”
“Human. Don’t push it.”
Uriel warned coldly as I laughed bitterly.
“No matter the situation, are you seriously mocking me?”
“Yeah. You know me well.”
At that moment—
“What did you say?”
“Yeah, I’m mocking you, you fucking idiot.”
Something I’d been holding back snapped.
“How dare you!”
“Dare my ass!”
Without thinking, I stomped my foot hard.
Bang!
All the frustration I’d been suppressing exploded at once. I poured more magic into my stomp, and the ground shook violently like a crashing wave. This was beyond ridiculous. I knew these bastards were like this from the start, but I couldn’t keep my composure anymore. It felt like my eyes were about to roll back.
“What the hell are you guys?”
My shout echoed sharply through the space.
“The demons came out and acted like that, so why the hell won’t you come out? Why the hell not!”