Chapter 385:
Magni was the eldest son of Thor, the god of thunder, and a half-god with the blood of a giant, born from the giantess Járnsaxa.
However, no one dared to belittle him merely because of his giant’s blood.
Magni was strong enough to be deemed the rightful heir to the power of Thor, the mightiest in Asgard.
In terms of rank, Magni belonged to the second-generation Divine Spirits, but considering his power, he was in no way inferior to the first generation. Above all, with Mjolnir, the thunder hammer passed down from his father, he was nearly invincible.
“Of course, this isn’t the real one. They say it was passed down from my father, but it’s just a replica, modeled after the legend of Mjolnir. Still, it’s a fine item. After all, it was created with help from the blacksmith god of Olympus.”
Magni candidly revealed this important fact to Yu-hyun.
Even though the Mjolnir he held was a fake, he exuded confidence, certain that its sheer power would still be enough to defeat Yu-hyun.
In reality, Yu-hyun did not feel any relief even after Magni disclosed the truth about Mjolnir.
From the moment he received Magni’s blow, Yu-hyun instinctively felt it. No matter how much of a fake it was, it was an imitation that came dangerously close to being real.
The pillar of light that had just descended wasn’t mere light—it was Mjolnir’s lightning, compressed to its limits. Directly confronting it, Yu-hyun realized it was on a whole different level.Of course, Magni was equally impressed. Yu-hyun had managed to block his Mjolnir strike, even though it was a surprise attack that Magni had swung with all his might.
‘Is this guy really human?’
Magni, who had wondered just how great the one called the "Book Pile Lord" could be, found himself genuinely astonished that such a strong person existed among humans.
A desire to fight stirred within him. He wanted to wield his hammer in a bloody battle and claim victory.
But Magni quickly shook his head, suppressing his growing desire.
‘No. This isn’t the time for that. There’s a reason I came here.’
Sending the Einherjar from Asgard was just an excuse. Whether Piren succeeded in her mission or not didn’t matter. No matter the result, Magni intended to personally step in and hold the enemy accountable for the deaths of his warriors, delivering divine punishment.
The only unexpected outcome was Piren’s defeat despite the significant force she brought with her.
And to a single individual, no less.
‘Well, whatever happens, it's fine. If I kill this guy and stir up conflict within the alliance, it’ll work out in our favor.’
Though the Salio Empire had temporarily aligned with Asgard, it was inevitable that they would one day turn their swords on each other.
In such a businesslike relationship, there was no room for friendship or trust. Naturally, thinking ahead, it was necessary to weaken the Salio Empire’s forces in advance.
Magni had successfully eliminated Piren, but the core target, Yu-hyun, was still alive and well.
Magni had no choice but to admit it. Yu-hyun was strong. Very strong.
That there still existed a human who could stir his warrior's blood into a boil was both exciting and frustrating.
‘What a shame.’
The pounding of his burning heart clashed with the frustrating reality of having to prioritize the interests of the group he belonged to over his personal desires.
Well, it couldn't be helped. Even gods couldn’t have everything they wanted at their fingertips.
If he had to do this anyway, it would be better to enjoy it with a smile rather than begrudge it.
With that in mind, Magni raised Mjolnir in his hand.
‘It’s coming.’
The moment Yu-hyun saw Magni’s movement, he reacted immediately. As soon as Mjolnir pointed to the sky, a blinding light flashed and surged toward Yu-hyun like a tidal wave.
A searing hot Lightning Wave. There was something reminiscent of the fourth verse of the hymn Chulaphantaka had once displayed long ago.
Though both Magni and Chulaphantaka were second-generation Divine Spirits, the sole difference was that Magni’s strike was far stronger.
Chulaphantaka had been unable to exert his full power due to his incomplete incarnation, but in the hybrid realm, Magni was free from any restrictions on his strength.
A blow from a second-generation Divine Spirit, on par with the first generation.
Faced with this, Yu-hyun had no time to spare and had to move immediately.
The Seventh Demonic Black Sky Divine Art’s Flame Point of Heaven.
Nine vortexes merged into one, piercing through the center of the lightning surge rushing toward him like a tidal wave.
He couldn't completely neutralize it, so he aimed to pierce straight through the center.
Magni wasn’t just standing idle either.
“Not bad!”
Mjolnir pointed toward the sky again. However, unlike before, instead of emitting lightning, it swung downward.
Boom!
A massive shockwave radiated out from the ground where Magni’s hammer struck. The earth quaked, causing tectonic shifts. Instantly, a massive rock wall rose before Magni, blocking Yu-hyun's path and obstructing his view.
‘Is that really just the result of swinging a hammer with one hand?’
Magni’s sheer physical strength, enough to have lifted the giant Hrungnir when he was only three years old, was no exaggeration. His brute power alone was nearly akin to a natural disaster.
Yu-hyun didn’t stop; instead, he sped up. A rock wall like that was nothing more than a sandcastle before a lord-level warrior.
A massive hole was blown through the wall, creating a clear path straight toward Magni.
Yu-hyun moved like a shadow, closing in on Magni in an instant.
“Good.”
Magni, seemingly pleased by Yu-hyun’s bold approach, raised Mjolnir with a broad smile.
Boom!
When Baekryeon collided with Mjolnir, a shockwave exploded, sweeping across the surrounding area. A thick cloud of dust billowed into the sky, and towering strata crumbled under the pressure.
Crunch!
While Yu-hyun’s ankle dug into the ground, Magni stood unscathed.
‘I’m losing in strength.’
Wearing the mask of Aporia, Yu-hyun wielded immense power, unmatched by anyone. He even possessed the ultimate vitality of Darwin’s body. He never thought he’d lose in strength to anyone.
Yet Magni’s physical strength was so overwhelming that even Darwin’s body couldn’t hold up against it.
Incredible power. Yu-hyun realized he had no chance in a direct confrontation and decided to change tactics.
Yu-hyun’s figure blurred, leaving an afterimage behind as he vanished. Magni’s eyes quickly followed him.
“You’re trying to beat me with speed?”
If strength wasn't an option, agility was the natural fallback. However, Yu-hyun was making one significant miscalculation. He assumed Magni was only strong.
Magni grinned, showing his teeth, and vanished from his spot in an instant. The ground where he had stood split apart under the force.
Magni demonstrated speed equal to his overwhelming strength. Incredibly, he managed to keep up with Yu-hyun’s movements, even with the Aporia mask on.
‘He’s catching up to me?’
“Where do you think you're going!”
The two shadows streaked across the vast plain at breakneck speed. Each collision between them cracked the earth and left the land in ruins.
Their gazes crossed in midair.
‘This guy…’
Magni couldn't help but admire Yu-hyun’s resilience. Even though Magni was fighting with considerable force, Yu-hyun wasn’t backing down. What was even more surprising was that Yu-hyun hadn’t even used his full power yet.
What had started as a casual fight now seemed like it might require his full seriousness.
‘Me? Against a mere human?’
Magni found the idea laughable. Who was he? The great god of thunder, Thor’s son, one of Asgard’s mightiest warriors and a god. No one had ever dared to challenge him, and while he may have belonged to the second generation of Divine Spirits, his raw strength was on par with the first generation.
Yet here he was, unable to subdue a single human.
He knew Yu-hyun hadn’t gone all out, and that alone was a blow to his pride. Naturally, Magni’s attacks began to carry a rising fury.
Magni’s aura shifted dramatically, and Yu-hyun quickly realized that Magni was about to get serious.
This was dangerous. If Yu-hyun didn’t give it his all, he would lose.
‘If I die, both Seo-ryeon and Hye-rim will be in danger.’
That was something he had to prevent at all costs.
Yu-hyun drew upon the energy of the Seven Demonic Black Sky Divine Art, channeling it through his entire body. Normally, the energy of the Divine Art was pitch-black like pure darkness, but this time, its color changed.
It was red, like blood. The sight made Magni feel something more than curiosity—he felt a chill run down his spine.
“So, you’re finally going to show your true strength!”
Magni, sensing that Yu-hyun had finally decided to get serious, poured his energy into Mjolnir. The hammer began to glow white once more.
The crimson energy swirling around Yu-hyun twisted like a living creature, writhing violently as
it engulfed him. The surrounding space emitted strange sounds, distorting under the immense pressure.
It was as if the power was being suppressed in a single location, preventing it from breaking free.
The Six Demons of the Seven Demonic Black Sky Divine Art.
Blood Light Chaos of Heaven.
The suppressed red energy exploded outward like thorns, tearing through the world around them.
Simultaneously, Magni unleashed his full power into Mjolnir. A massive lightning storm gathered around Magni and collided with the Blood Light Chaos of Heaven.
The impact was so great that even Baek Seo-ryeon, within the Mixed World, could feel the tremors from their battle.
“Are you okay, Hye-rim?”
Inside the Mixed World, Baek Seo-ryeon embraced the trembling Kang Hye-rim, gently stroking her back.
“Yu-hyun will definitely win.”
But even as she said that, her gaze wavered with uncertainty.
Yu-hyun gritted his teeth as he clashed with Magni.
‘He’s strong.’
Once again, Yu-hyun was reminded of the strength he had felt while fighting Choi Do-yoon.
Magni was a well-known Divine Spirit, highly revered in myth. It was no wonder that fighting him with his full power was proving to be a daunting task.
Yet, in the midst of this struggle, Yu-hyun couldn’t help but think of Choi Do-yoon’s annoying face. If Choi Do-yoon had fought with all his might, it would have felt just like this.
‘Little by little, I’m losing ground.’
Magni was a Divine Spirit known for his raw physical strength. Even if his Mjolnir was a fake, Magni was fighting with all his might, unleashing his full power in this battle.
Facing him head-on, it was clear that Yu-hyun was still far from victory.
So, he decided to change his approach.
‘If one isn’t enough, I’ll use two.’
And if two wasn’t enough, then three.
Yu-hyun channeled energy into the Wings of Icarus spread behind him. The black wings, now tinged red from the influence of Blood Light Chaos of Heaven, warped into a twisted, demonic form.
The Sixth Demon of the Seven Demonic Black Sky Divine Art—Blood Wing King.
The massive wings enveloped the lightning storm from both sides, hugging it like a cocoon. In this state, Yu-hyun infused energy into Baekryeon for his third attack. The sword, now transformed into a spear, quivered and turned red.
Just as he was about to throw it through the collision point and strike Magni—
Magni emerged, breaking through the clashing powers.
‘What the…?’
For a moment, Yu-hyun’s thoughts froze. He had barely reacted to Magni’s sudden move.
‘Did he break through that?’
It was a bold move, even for a Divine Spirit. Magni had forcefully pushed through the collision of his own lightning and Yu-hyun’s Blood Light Chaos of Heaven.
Magni, now in plain sight, was bleeding from several parts of his body.
But if suffering a few wounds would secure his victory in this battle, Magni was more than willing to endure them.
His charge was reckless, a gamble that transcended common sense.
Magni grinned broadly as he charged at Yu-hyun. He didn’t need to get close. Even from this distance, Mjolnir would be enough to kill Yu-hyun.
‘I’ve won.’
Magni acknowledged Yu-hyun’s strength.
If he hadn’t taken the risk and pressed forward, Magni himself would’ve been the one to lose.
It was only because he had broken through at the last possible moment that he realized Yu-hyun had been preparing a triple-layered attack beyond the explosion.
A brief, subtle difference in timing. That was all it took to decide the outcome of this fight.
‘Though I know you still haven’t gone all out, this is the end.’
Magni swung Mjolnir straight toward Yu-hyun’s head.
“…!”
But just at that moment, Magni suddenly felt a sense of danger and pulled back.
Why did he throw away a perfect opportunity so suddenly?
Before Yu-hyun could process the strange feeling, a violet beast dropped down from the sky.
“You…”
Magni, now retreating, glared at the violet beast, gritting his teeth.
Instinctively, he had withdrawn, but seeing the unexpected intruder, Magni felt he had made the right choice.
Had he continued to swing Mjolnir, aiming to kill Yu-hyun to the end—
He would have been the one to die.
“Damn it. Of all times, you had to interfere…”
Magni ground his teeth. Though he didn’t know exactly what this creature was, he was certain about one thing: he knew the power it wielded better than anyone else.
If he continued to fight, he would definitely die. The creature before him had the power to make that a reality.
Though retreating was a greater humiliation to a warrior than dying, Magni forced himself to swallow his rage and step back.
“Next time, I’ll kill you for sure.”
With bloodshot eyes, Magni spat out the warning before disappearing into the sky, enveloped in lightning.
Having narrowly survived, Yu-hyun turned to face the massive violet beast that had blocked his path.
Though it was the first time he had seen it, the creature somehow felt familiar.
Rustle.
The beast’s form slowly vanished like a mirage, and in its place stood a woman.
As she turned her back to him, Yu-hyun stared at the figure in a daze and muttered.
“Kwon Jia?”
“Yes.”
Answering his question, Kwon Jia turned around and met Yu-hyun’s gaze.
Her steady eyes, her confident tone.
They were just as he remembered.
Kwon Jia smiled faintly.
“It’s been a while.”