Subscriber of the Gods

Kkaang-!

The longer the sparring went on, the more overwhelmed Ethan became by Hang Woo’s strength.

‘He’s become one with the spear.’

Just like the unity of sword and man in divine swordsmanship, Hang Woo had reached the state of unity with his divine spear.

The spear technique showed ever-changing movements. What was most problematic was the range of Hang Woo’s spear.

Even when Ethan thought the spear couldn’t reach, it would suddenly elongate, leaving him constantly at the mercy of Hang Woo’s spear technique.

‘But.’

Ethan’s body was in a complete mess. A deep wound on his shoulder rendered one arm useless, and an injury to his thigh prevented him from moving as quickly as before.

‘I can’t end it like this.’

‘This isn’t giving up.’

It’s just setting a clear goal.

“This should be enough. Persevering any further would just be reckless. You know it too, don’t you, Subscriber?”

Hang Woo highly praised Ethan’s skills.

He had also gathered enough information to give advice as Ethan wanted. That’s why he hoped Ethan would admit defeat on his own.

But Ethan didn’t give up.

Kwak-!

Thinking this might be his only chance, he concentrated all his strength on his injured foot.

Bzzzt-!

Yellow lightning wrapped around his foot.

‘How far can I go?’

Ethan sheathed his sword and used the highest technique of Ethan Swordsmanship.

The ultimate move of Ethan Swordsmanship, combining Frost Thunder Flash Blade with the instantaneous monstrous strength of Cheok Shin Sword Technique.

Ethan Swordsmanship Third Form

Ten Thousand Thunder Frost Strike

Ethan’s sword directly struck Hang Woo’s spear.

“Huh!”

Surprised, Hang Woo tried to retrieve his spear, but Ethan’s strength was much greater than before. He had concentrated all his power into that single moment of swinging.

Hang Woo’s stance crumbled, leaving his chest wide open.

Ethan didn’t miss this opening.

Slash!

But in that instant, Ethan’s sword cut through empty air.

Hang Woo had dodged backward, leaving an afterimage.

Having evaded, Hang Woo stared intently at Ethan.

Ethan was breathing heavily.

One might expect a despairing expression after his killing blow failed to connect.

Yet he was smiling as if relieved.

Seeing this, Hang Woo laughed brightly.

“Uhahahahat-!”

Drip-!

Though he thought he had dodged, Hang Woo hadn’t escaped unscathed.

A long wound appeared on Hang Woo’s chest, blood seeping out.

“That was an excellent strike!”

“Is this enough to count as a win?”

Ethan asked, gasping for breath as he sat down on the spot.

Hang Woo approached Ethan and helped him up.

“There have been many subscribers who sparred with me through this joint content.”

Hang Woo said.

“They all asked me to teach them something. So I did. I can’t go easy, but since it was sparring, I gave it my all. What do you think happened?”

“I guess they all got crushed by you, Lord Hang Woo. Miserably.” (+)^[1]TLN: I’ll use Lord for the gods from now on. I’m sorry for the inconsistency.

“That’s right, not a single one could withstand it. Every single one of them, without exception, passed out and wasted their joint content time.”

Saying this, he patted Ethan’s back heavily.

“You’re the only one. The only subscriber who maintained consciousness and didn’t pass out after the sparring ended. And you even managed to wound me.”

Hang Woo touched his chest. Though it had been quite a deep wound, Hang Woo’s injury had already healed completely.

Shaaaak-.

At the same time, all of Ethan’s wounds disappeared as well. Ethan’s body, which had been utterly exhausted just moments ago, recovered instantly.

“So, did you find what you were looking for in this sparring match?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I’ve realized many things.”

Cheok Jun-gyeong, Hercules, Hang Woo.

He felt it was a good decision to have joint content with these three.

Each god had passed on their beliefs and philosophies to Ethan.

Before the joint content, Ethan was at a level where he couldn’t be confident of victory even against Luna Spirit, said to be the weakest of the Twelve Apostles.

But now it was different.

After all, he was the only subscriber to have wounded Hang Woo.

Ethan looked at his fist. Then he repeatedly clenched and unclenched it.

“I’ve definitely gotten stronger.”

A new swordsmanship.

A new mindset.

And he had managed to master the abilities he already possessed.

“You’re still clumsy with Counter-Radiance and Supreme Resilience. But… haven’t you just learned them recently?”

Though clumsy, he could use them to some extent in actual combat.

“Yes, my proficiency isn’t high yet. Counter-Radiance is about 15 percent.”

“15 percent? No, already?”

Hang Woo was greatly surprised by Ethan’s words.

All of Hang Woo’s techniques are highly difficult.

His signature technique, Counter-Radiance, is easy to learn and use, but difficult to increase proficiency in. Supreme Resilience also requires directly receiving the opponent’s attacks with one’s body, making it hard to get used to.

Even if one grasps the concept, it takes daily, repeated training to reach just 10 percent proficiency.

To increase proficiency, one must push their body to the limit.

“…If you had learned it through shortcuts, you couldn’t use it to this extent. But mere vague training wouldn’t allow you to properly use Counter-Radiance either.”

This meant he must have trained through the proper method.

He must have pushed his body to the limit, repeatedly surpassing those limits while using Counter-Radiance.

If he trained like that, this abnormal speed of proficiency increase makes sense.

Hang Woo stroked his chin and muttered, “Hmm.”

“That must be your own method too.”

Ethan’s swordsmanship was quite special. A subscriber trained to this extent must have found his own way to increase Counter-Radiance proficiency.

“Thank you for the praise.”

“This joint content was quite interesting. So, like other gods, I have a favor to ask of you. Of course, it’s not just a simple favor.”

“You’re also aiming higher, Lord Hang Woo.”

Seeing Ethan quickly grasp his meaning, Hang Woo grinned.

“I’m planning to create many new videos. I’m thinking of letting go of some of my old stubbornness too. Do you know? Currently, the New World is in turmoil, centered around you.”

The history of the New World is long.

Throughout that long history, there hasn’t been much change in the New World.

But now, that New World was in upheaval.

“Since you appeared in this New World, the political situation has been greatly shaken. Unknown Eastern gods have grown rapidly and risen to the top. Gods in the middle ranks who had been stagnant for a long time can now look higher. The rankings that had been fixed for a long time have changed.”

Additionally, subscribers stimulated by Ethan have started to act like him.

“The community boards where subscribers talk to each other have become much more active too.”

Ethan was the starting point of all these changes.

“Everyone talks about it jokingly. That you might become a game changer for the New World. They all say it half-jokingly, but somehow I feel like you’ll achieve something.”

Hang Woo said with a smile.

“It might be a funny story right now, certainly.”

Ethan took a breath, then said with conviction.

“But it won’t end as a funny story.”

***

Through continuous joint content with the gods, Ethan achieved quite satisfactory results.

Above all, the biggest achievement was that he had grown considerably mentally.

‘Though that means I’ve got a lot more homework too.’

“If I were to fight against someone as strong as Luna Spirit again, I wouldn’t lose.”

But there are always variables.

“I need to compensate for the biggest weakness of Extinction.”

Surviving as Ethan Whiskers starts now.

***

After briefly stopping by the Whiskers territory using Wind Cloud, Ethan immediately headed towards the market.

‘I need to fill up my spatial pocket with more funds.’

The money he had filled up before was all spent on donations to the Holylight Order.

But since he was earning money faster than he was spending it, now it was a matter of how to use that money.

“Huh?”

Arriving at the market, Ethan spotted a familiar back of a head.

“Oh.”

As Ethan saw him, that person who had been looking around also spotted Ethan and made a very embarrassed expression.

“Hahaha… It’s been a while, Ethan.”

It was Letra Huntar.

The eldest son of the Count Huntar family, who had sparred with Ethan when Count Huntar visited before, was right in front of Ethan’s eyes.

And not just standing there, but waiting in line.

“Are you here for attribute enchantment?”

“That attribute enchantment thing, it’s really amazing.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed.”

Ethan gave a thumbs up.

“It’s a natural aspiration and romance, isn’t it, Letra?”

“…That’s right!”

Letra, who had been hesitating, smiled brightly.

After chatting with Letra like this.

Ethan immediately filled his spatial pocket with money.

“It feels like stocking up food in the fridge.”

1 billion gold.

‘This should be enough for a few months.’

Then he headed to the workshop.

“Everyone’s working hard.”

The mages from the Magic Tower who joined at the start of the business were already completely familiar with their work.

They applied magic as if they were machines, showing the skill of veterans.

“Lord Ethan! You’re here!”

“I’ve created a new method of attribute enchantment this time.”

“I can now apply different colors of flame!”

“Now lightning attribute enchantment is possible too! Of course, there’s no actual lightning attribute!”

“I’ve developed a technique to combine two attribute enchantments into one. Please take a look!”

Despite the enormous number of customers visiting daily, those dealing with these customers didn’t look tired at all.

Rather, when Ethan arrived, they eagerly talked about the new attribute enchantments they had researched, as if they had been waiting for him.

‘How pure.’

Pure passion, and the desire to be recognized.

For them, dealing with numerous customers wasn’t a difficult task.

‘The more customers that come, the more they feel their magic is being recognized. It’s not just a feeling. That’s an accurate indicator.’

The long line stretching out. All the customers standing in this line want these mages’ magic.

‘With so many people wanting their magic, they can’t help but research magic more. They’ll want to show something new and be recognized even more.’

That’s why those dealing with many customers had greatly increased confidence in their magic.

Their old appearance with slumped shoulders was nowhere to be seen now.

“Everyone, speak slowly. How do you like the houses and research labs that were provided this time?”

“Sniff, to give such big houses and research labs to all of us, it was really touching.”

“I’ve never even been inside such a big house before.”

“This is my first time having a specialized research lab just for my magic, Lord Ethan.”

Ethan had given them definite rewards.

For those who had lived in the Magic Tower’s shared research lab and tiny rooms until recently, this must feel like a completely new world.

“Until now, you haven’t received proper compensation for your abilities. But that’s different now. Those houses and research labs are just the beginning. From now on, you’ll receive proper rewards for your abilities.”

At those words, the mages looked at Ethan with eyes full of reverence, as if seeing a god.

‘A big house and research lab, it’s a reward that feels very tangible.’

“Now, shall we see the results?”

Now the mages didn’t doubt Ethan’s judgment.

“Hmm.”

Ethan checked the new attribute enchantments that each mage had created. Ethan had various knowledge, so he knew well which methods could appeal more to customers.

“Oh.”

Ethan looked at the attribute enchantment Marakan had created.

“You can change the color of the flame as desired. Color mixing is possible too!”

“That’s amazing. How many colors are possible?”

“In addition to the original red, blue and black flame colors have been added.”

Marakan’s expression was full of pride.

Ethan stroked his chin and said, “Hmm.”

“Is this color possible too?”

At Ethan’s words, Marakan’s eyes widened.

The color Ethan described was one that Marakan had never even thought of before.

• 1. TLN: I’ll use Lord for the gods from now on. I’m sorry for the inconsistency.

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