Merba (4)

Even though they found the destination, they couldnt move right away. An army of artifacts was flying in towards Kang Shin-hyuk, and the work of controlling [Lullaby] wasnt completely finished. He could also feel strong energy condensing from a distance.

Thats where your traces are. Maybe these weapons were instinctively looking for traces of you.

Hmm, I dont think it was out of filial piety.

A group of weapons flew at him with terrible energy, focusing only on him despite there being others with him. Kang Shin-hyuk, who ripped them apart with the sandstorm, felt no danger.

Come, Anvil.

Wow I might have to work hard on that too.

With Tsukuyos quiet whisper, even Shu looked tense. Kang Shin-hyuk raised his head and looked ahead. He saw something like tentacles with dozens of red metallic blades emitting weird light. The moment it appeared, it felt like the temperature had dropped. Whatever it was, it was growing a little bit bigger by eating the other artifacts in the area.

X No, more than that

There seems to be a trait that has the edge over all weapons. Uh, isnt that a little dangerous?

Absolutely Anvils work. Its the best masterpiece youve ever made in this world.

Please dont call it a masterpiece.

Certainly, when he first made it, that weapon wouldve been common. But how much had it gone through? Kang Shin-hyuk was unable to laugh or cry, but Claire expressed it briefly and accurately.

It looks like you should check your sanity level first.

I dont know what it was originally.

Yes, maybe thats why it became so strong. It looks like its eating randomly.

The power of the so-called Predation series, which had grown in strength by eating things, proved to be very famous. Kang Shin-hyuks pet, Onyx, had that ability, as did the Dark Spirit Pearl. However, such power wasnt common. If it were, the whole universe would be over. At least, the Anvil from before entering the shelter wouldnt have the ability to create such artifacts. However, at this point, even the [Lullaby] on this planet had that power. It was a result of the seeds planted by Anvil being completed with the addition of human greed. That was it. Those weapons, forced to sleep for many years, may have stolen power from it.

Should I stop it, grandpa?

Kang Shin-hyuk could not move while manipulating the sandstorm, so Shu tried to step out, but Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head and stopped her.

No, thats a good fit.

Hm?

-Myuuuuu!

Before Kang Shin-hyuk could answer, Onyx emerged from the blue cow and bounced into the air. As he communicated with spiritual power, Onyx already understood his will and took action. He laughed at the little guys aggressive spirit before using the wind to float him lightly. Then, he aimed him at the stupid-looking mythical creatures flying towards them and fired him off.

-Myuuuuuuuuuuu!

Kang Shin-hyuk used his God Wind to fire off Onyx like a shell. While everyone watched, Onyx rushed in a straight line to clash with the terrible weapon. What resulted was really fierce predation.

Oh, wow

I thought it had great potential, but I didnt know

It was rare to see Tsukuyo surprised. Kang Shin-hyuk watched Onyx with a bloody smile. He was devouring the whole thing by spreading his own magic power. They probably had similar abilities, but the difference was that Onyx wasnt made of metal. Thus, he could unilaterally eat his target.

Wouldnt it be possible for Onyx to eat everything from the start?

He can eat weapons, but hes not immune to them. If he was exposed to countless weapons, hed be injured.

If every problem could be solved like that from the start, he would have. However, the reason it was possible now was that Onyxs foes were also only using his predation ability. Simply, he won the rock, paper, scissors fight.

Besides Yes, I thought it was my responsibility to deal with these guys. In the end, I had to borrow Onyxs power.

A bitter smile appeared on Kang Shin-hyuks lips. It was true that he tried to solve it with his own strength. However, while the other artifacts could be devoured by the Lullaby, that artifact which copied Lullabys power wasnt so easily dealt with. It was true he wanted to strengthen Onyx as well, so it worked out.

-Myu!

Oh, you suffered. And dont do that.

After eating, Onyx let out a lively cry and returned to Kang Shin-hyuks side. The problem was that by expressing the ability of what he had just eaten, his body began to radiate red light, turning all the thorns on his back into blades comparable to the one he ate.

-Myuuuu!

No, Ill take care of the rest. Dont think about eating more and stay quiet.

-Myu?!

Onyx had wasnt strong. However, this time, he was able to express his ability aggressively against a well-matched opponent. Specifically, it wasnt enough to judge Onyx himself as an X-rank monster. If you considered the special abilities only he had, he was already at a level beyond quite a few Hero Universe members.

No other VIP has this kind of family.

After all, grandpa makes the best no matter what.

Make? What? Well, yes. Lets say I made it.

-Myu?!

After that, Kang Shin-hyuk took control of the sands and sorted all of the remaining artifacts in that ruined world.

Kang Shin-hyuk closed his eyes and silently apologized to all the children he had created in the past, but who had grown up improperly because he threw them away. Whether it was [Lullaby] or the weapons, everyone had been waiting for him to arrive.

Okay, then.

Shall we go right away, Anvil?

No, please wait a second. I cant leave the Lullaby like this.

Large holes had pierced the sand desert, revealing the terrible sights beneath it. It mightve just been better to cover it, but the Lullaby was also a child of Anvil. He couldnt leave it there.

Since amplification and splitting are possible, so is compression.

No, to be precise, the moment Tsukuyo fired her attack, the Lullaby had compressed to absorb it. The result was that glass crystal (he wondered if it turned to glass from the heat, but it was slightly different). Now, the sand moved around Kang Shin-hyuks party.

Compression.

The moment he reached out a hand and muttered that all the sand connected through the spiritual network began to collect at a point in front of his palm. The unfamiliar planet covered under it The cemetery revealed its real form.

Wow

This

Even Tsukuyo, who had lived through many years and had been through many dimensions, frowned. As it had been covered with hundreds of meters of sand and been preserved by it, the appearance of the planet Merba was a bleak and naked landscape of destruction. Kang Shin-hyuk ignored it and focused only on the sand gathering in front of him. It was being compressed into a single point, at first in the shape of a sphere, but as more sand gathered, it morphed.

Huh? Shin-hyuk, this.

Claires eyes went wide at it. Yes, she would respond that way, as close to Eunah as she was. The sand converging in front of him took the form of a tiny hairpin.

This Wasnt it the hairpin you gave Eunah?

Yes, it looked exactly like the hairpin Anvil had given Eunah, the same one she had always worn.

No. This I made it before that.

However, Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head firmly.

-Synchronization has weakly accelerated- current rate of 99.9%.

A face came to his mind, that of a small child who danced with joy while holding that hairpin. He already knew it was an immutable past, and he already knew that it had happened in a previous life. Nevertheless, he couldnt stand that distorted face.

This Its the hairpin I made for my daughter in my previous life.

Ah.

Thats why he thought of making one for Eunahs birthday. Thats why he gave the child a hairpin and cursed himself for being stupid. Perhaps Kang Shin-hyuk, having regained those memories, couldnt accept Shin Eunah because of that. She had worn that hairpin, which looked exactly like the one his daughter had.

I cant forgive They tried to create a weapon using an object with such precious memories

Tsukuyo was outraged, but Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head and held her back, seeing several black tails rising behind her.

If youre angry, theres no one to take it out on They were completely destroyed. Yes, its all over, so dont worry.

Anvil

Grandpa, are you okay?

Only then did everyone notice why Kang Shin-hyuk had been in contact with [Lullaby], and why his expression was so complicated. Claire now completely understood those complex feelings behind his interactions with Shin Eunah. But even then, Kang Shin-hyuk didnt know the secrets of the hairpin in detail

But Anvil.

Tsukuyo, hesitating, spoke up.

Why take your daughters belongings? Did the humans have it?

According to his memories, he heard that his daughter and wife died after a monster attack, and not even a body was left behind So why did this hairpin that had no special powers remain?

Maybe the hairpin was separated and kept safe.

Anvil.

Tsukuyo regarded him coolly.

Why not read the memories of [Lullaby] deeper?

Tsukuyo didnt hesitate to bring up the possibility he tried to deny. Was this the reason the administrator had sent her along? As Tsukuyo said earlier, she found traces of him. If so, maybe

Tsukuyo First of all, it would be better to go to the place where you found traces of me.

If you mean to, Ill do it. Ill keep sticking with you.

Wow, its really fiery. Honey, come on.

Yes. Thanks.

Then I Ouch!

Thats why I cant help it.

Onyx and the blue cow turned back into a car, and they began to head into the direction Tsukuyo led them.

It was the smithy where he had stayed after entering the shelter.