**Chapter 1: I Became the Dragon God of an Apocalyptic Cult**
*Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust*
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“Dammit.”
A gloomy mass of black clouds hung heavily over the sky of Seoul.
Standing atop Namhansanseong Fortress, Captain Kim Suho of Team Liquid surveyed the scene through his binoculars. His face was etched with frustration as he sighed at the dismal reality before him.
Seoul, the city he once knew—always lit up, never allowing even a sliver of darkness to creep in—was now a ruin. It had once been the bustling, vibrant capital of South Korea, full of life and prosperity befitting a nation’s capital.
“Is that really the Seoul we once knew?”
“It was, Captain.”
But now, through the lenses of Kim Suho’s binoculars, the only thing that stood out amidst the shattered skyline was the grim sight of monsters roaming freely, their grotesque forms illuminated by the pale moonlight seeping through the dark clouds.
It was impossible to associate this wasteland with the capital city that once symbolized the nation’s success.
“They’re swarming everywhere.”
The devastation weighed heavily on Kim Suho’s mind as he continued to watch.
The reason for his despair? Seoul was now completely overrun by zombies and monsters—the very creatures that had brought South Korea to its knees. The historic Namhansanseong Fortress, where he now stood, had become the military’s last stronghold in this apocalyptic world. The irony of it all made him laugh bitterly.
“If you have faith in God, there’s no need to worry.”
“Dammit.”
What should they do now? As Kim Suho contemplated their grim future, an irritating voice reached his ears.
In a world where civilization had collapsed and the apocalypse reigned supreme, what was the only “drug” left for humans to cling to?
“We of the Balhut Cult will never retreat, not for the sake of our fellow humans.”
Religion.
Traditional religions had long fallen apart, and now countless cults had risen, preaching salvation and demanding faith in their gods.
The common sense that once existed in times of peace had crumbled, replaced by a desperate need to accept a new reality shaped by the apocalypse. Or perhaps it was a way for the powerless survivors to force themselves to believe in something—anything—that could make sense of the chaos.
“Why the hell did the higher-ups allow a cultist into this operation?”
Though Kim Suho wasn’t ignorant of the situation, having once been a believer in a traditional religion before the end times, he viewed the sudden rise of these doomsday cults as a sign of humanity’s final days. Still, if these cults could provide some mental relief for the survivors, he wasn’t against letting them be—for now.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“It’s simple. As long as we walk with Him, we have no enemies.”
“That’s quite the statement…”
“Captain, she’s from Seorabeol.”
Religion, which should have been a source of spiritual respite, had now even begun to interfere with military operations. Kim Suho rubbed his temples in frustration as the cult priestess continued spouting her fanatical beliefs.
As he was about to curse out loud, one of his subordinates stopped him, mentioning Seorabeol.
‘Seorabeol?’
That name stirred a memory in Kim Suho’s mind. There was only one place that came to mind when he heard Seorabeol.
“Are you from Gyeongju?”
“Yes, I am a priestess of the Balhut Cult.”
Of course, it had to be someone from one of the most troublesome cults growing in power recently.
Kim Suho clenched his teeth, swallowing the string of curses that rose to his throat. The mere mention of the Balhut Cult was enough to irritate him, but he forced himself to remain composed as he eyed the priestess warily.
Despite the apocalyptic ruin of the world around them, she stood before him with a clean face and pristine robes, as if untouched by the horrors outside.
‘I can’t just deal with her the usual way.’
Kim Suho had heard rumors about the abilities the Balhut Cult members supposedly possessed. Though he wasn’t sure how much of it was true, he couldn’t afford to carelessly dismiss her.
The internet and various sources were filled with stories of the miracles performed by the Balhut Cult in battles—powerful feats that had turned the tide in many fights.
“…If your god can help us achieve victory, prove it.”
“Ah, so you’re asking for faith? If only you had told me sooner. Things wouldn’t have been so difficult.”
Though Kim Suho had no trust in the cult, he didn’t hold back in expressing his doubts. The priestess, however, calmly reassured him, promising to show the power of her god.
To Kim Suho, it all sounded like hollow words.
“As if…”
How could anything turn the tide in such a hopeless situation? In truth, after escorting the refugees from Seoul, Kim Suho had already resigned himself to abandoning Namhansanseong as well. The defenses wouldn’t hold against the massive force of enemies closing in on them.
Fighting them from behind these ancient walls seemed futile.
“Watch closely.”
But even after witnessing the overwhelming enemy forces just outside the fortress walls, the priestess showed no fear.
Was she delusional? Or did she actually have something up her sleeve?
Kim Suho, recalling the many strange events that had unfolded during the apocalypse, suspected it was nothing more than religious madness. Yet, the priestess stretched out her hand toward the sky with unwavering confidence.
“Come forth! O mighty and merciful god of the Balhut Cult—Bahamut!”
“What the…? Nothing’s….”
At first, Kim Suho’s skepticism only deepened.
But then, with the priestess’s proclamation, a massive magic circle appeared in the sky, glowing red and pale as it expanded over the darkened sky of Seoul.
“What the hell? Is that… a magic circle?”
It was an intricate, three-dimensional formation that completely obscured the black clouds above. It was so vast and detailed that it blocked out the entire sky.
Soon after, the circle reached its critical point, and with a deafening sound, a brilliant light shot down from the heavens.
“A meteor?”
At first, people thought it was a falling star. But through his binoculars, Kim Suho saw the truth. It wasn’t a meteor. It was a massive creature descending from the sky, its wings wrapped around its enormous body.
With a thunderous crash, the creature landed near Namhansanseong, shaking the earth and sending shockwaves through the air. Kim Suho’s heart raced as he beheld the impossible sight.
“What in the world…”
Even in this apocalyptic world, where monsters roamed freely, Kim Suho had never seen anything like this.
Standing over 50 meters tall, the creature’s colossal wings shimmered with a mix of gold and crimson. Its powerful body was covered in blue and gold scales, glinting ominously in the faint light.
A dragon—a being straight out of legend—had appeared.
“Behold! This is our god, the mighty and merciful Dragon God, Bahamut! Witness His power!”
The priestess’s voice rang out, but no one could respond.
It wasn’t that they were ignoring her.
They were simply too overwhelmed by the sight before them.
Kim Suho felt his legs tremble as the sheer presence of the dragon, the raw power radiating from it, threatened to crush him.
“Rooooooaaarrrr!”
The dragon let out a deafening roar, shaking the very sky. Its majestic figure stood tall, glaring at the approaching hordes of monsters with disdain.
For the first time in a long while, a flicker of hope sparked in the hearts of the survivors gathered at Namhansanseong.
“That… that’s…!”
“Watch closely! And behold the glory of our god! The might of Bahamut!”
The dragon leaped into the air, soaring high before locking its gaze on the ground below.
It opened its mouth wide, and Kim Suho could feel the enormous surge of power building within. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what was about to happen. The priestess, however, simply smiled, urging him to witness the miracle.
Everyone at Namhansanseong dropped to their knees and began praying, hoping that the dragon’s wrath wouldn’t befall them.
“Crazy!”
“This is the light that will deliver us to victory!”
Kim Suho, still watching intently, hoped the dragon wouldn’t turn its gaze toward them. Meanwhile, the dragon’s mouth began to glow, gathering an intense blue energy that shone like a miniature sun, illuminating the darkened sky over Seoul.
As the radiant sphere formed within the dragon’s maw, Kim Suho could only stare in disbelief.
And then, with a blinding flash, the dragon unleashed the sphere, firing it straight toward the ground.
BOOM!
The sound was deafening, as if a nuclear bomb had detonated. The resulting shockwave sent dust and debris flying everywhere.
The dark, ruined city of Seoul was bathed in light as the brilliant explosion engulfed everything in its path. Kim Suho had no choice but to close his eyes against the overwhelming brightness.
A few seconds later, the noise subsided, and the light gradually faded, leaving behind an eerie silence.
There were no whispers, no murmurs—just pure silence
.
Kim Suho slowly opened his eyes, only to be greeted by an unbelievable sight.
“They’re… gone.”
The horde of monsters advancing on Namhansanseong had been completely wiped out.
Not a single creature remained. All that was left were scorched earth and the blue flames that still smoldered across the battlefield, evidence of the immense power that had just been unleashed.
The once-thriving forest and rocky terrain had been reduced to a barren wasteland. The invincible army of monsters that had seemed like an endless tide had been utterly erased in a single blow.
Only one person remained unfazed by the destruction.
“Ahahahahaha!”
The priestess of the Balhut Cult laughed joyously, her voice echoing across the fortress.
“How was that? Do you now believe in the power of our god?”
Believe?
What was she even saying right now?
“Oh dear, are you feeling unwell? Should I heal you with some recovery magic? Are you okay?”
Am I okay?
No. Kim Suho was not okay.
His entire body was still trembling from the overwhelming energy and awe he had just experienced. Words failed him, leaving him unable to respond.
And it wasn’t just Kim Suho. His subordinates, too, were left in a state of shocked reverence.
“Ooooooohhh…”
“It seems our god is pleased with today’s victory. Please, pray for the one who has brought us this miracle.”
The dragon let out another roar, seemingly satisfied with its work. The priestess urged everyone to pray, and the survivors at Namhansanseong, filled with awe and relief, began to kneel and offer their thanks.
The dragon, bathed in a gentle blue light, started to fade into the air. Its massive form gradually dissolved, disappearing as mysteriously as it had appeared.
“Now, if you wish to join the Balhut Cult and serve our god Bahamut, the time is ripe.”
According to the priestess, all of this was a miracle from their god.
“I’ll convert right now.”
On that day, the survivors at Namhansanseong embraced a new faith.
They had witnessed the descent of a mighty dragon and experienced its overwhelming power firsthand. From that moment on, they worshiped the Dragon God Bahamut, the god of valor and mercy, as the one true deity.
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