Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

The awakeners no longer had to scavenge for food or eat dried fruits from the tree. They simply plucked the boulder-sized fruits and drank water from the thick roots, which filtered through them and added a healing touch to it.

But the awakeners weren't the only ones who wanted the benefits of the world tree.

The creature that had fled the area because of the mole disaster and the dying tree returned. For them, the awakeners were nothing but invaders. From mutated birds to evolved animals, everything charged toward the tree to claim it as their own.

"328 monsters," YuWon mumbled, touching the ground.

[Thermo-sense] helped YuWon predict the number of enemies approaching them from the land. As for the birds, there wasn't much they could do about them unless they got close.

"Lysandra," YuWon called.

"On it," she smiled and raised her hand.

With the world tree recovering, Lysandra's powers returned as well. With a swipe of her hand, massive vines emerged from the ground, forming a barrier around the tree.

***

YuWon wiped the sweat from his head after cleaving through one of the mutated bear-like beasts.

"They just keep coming," he said, glancing back at the others.

"It's not like we can't handle them," Anna grinned, twirling her blade.

Just then, a vine shot out between them and wrapped around a beast, holding it in place.

"A little help?" Lysandra laughed.

"Sure thing."

Gina dashed towards the beast, slicing it in half with YuWon's spare crimson sword.

While YuWon and a few others fought the beasts outside the barrier, Yeji and Yuna led a contingent, fighting the smaller beasts that wiggled their way through the barrier.

Much like them, the awakeners worked in sync, killing anything non-human that moved in sight.

***

Min-Ji stared at her children from the safety of the tree. All of them were shoved into the apocalypse simultaneously. But the growth they had shown was substantial compared to her.

"I have no reason to be worried anymore," Min-Ji smiled.

Unlike them, she didn't have a combat class. She was merely a glorified cook. But since she didn't have any ingredients to cook before, her talent was getting wasted.

As the world tree healed, she had the chance to show off her skills. The dishes she made using the world fruit gave the awakeners different temporary boosts.

Enhanced attributes, bonus damage, additional healing, and invulnerability. Those were some of the most famous boosts she offered. Everyone praised her skill... but not the one she wanted to hear it most from.

YuWon ate nothing she made. Even if it would provide him with boosts, he wouldn't touch her food. Yeji tried to feed him sometimes, but even she failed.

Her son was true to his words. He wanted nothing to do with her and now, Min-Ji had to make her piece with it.

"You did something to master, didn't you?" Lilith mumbled, sitting on Min-Ji's head.

"...you can say that," Min-Ji replied, smiling wanly.

Lilith tilted her head in confusion. She had only been with YuWon for a couple of days, but she hadn't seen him behave coldly towards anyone, especially someone who wasn't useless by his standards.

***

Asmodeus...

Lucifer gritted his teeth as he was running through a forest. In the mortal realm, only a few people could have such an effect on Lucifer. One of whom was Asmodeus.

The man was like a hunting dog. No matter how much Lucifer tried, he couldn't shake him off. It was as if he was possessed.

I wonder what got him all riled up.

Lucifer sighed, killing a seven-horned rhino who got in his way. The flesh of these beasts was quite delicious. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to eat them properly.

He shoved what he could inside his mouth and inventory before running ahead. After all, Asmodeus wouldn't wait for him to finish eating before continuing the chase.

"What has become of you?"

Lucifer's feet froze as soon as he heard that voice. It wasn't Asmodeus's voice, but someone far worse than him. The voice was enough to make him forget about Asmodeus, and he immediately went to his knees.

"...my apologies for such... delinquency," Lucifer mumbled, not daring to look up. "Goddess Morrigan."

The crow perched in the tree above tilted its head. Its golden eyes pierced through the darkness and Lucifer's soul as it stared down at him. welcome-to-MVLeMpYr

Lucifer didn't dare look up, but he knew it was a projection of the goddess, not the goddess. After all, the gods couldn't descend into the mortal world themselves.

Instead, they forced their consciousness onto unsuspecting beings, such as animals. However, no mortal form could host such power for long and will inevitably die. That's why Lucifer knew Morrigan wasn't there to waste time.

"No need to be so formal with me," Morrigan replied, sitting on Lucifer's shoulder. "After all... you are, but a nephew to me."

Lucifer could only smile, even though he was cursing his luck. Morrigan called him her nephew, but he was nothing more than a toy to her. A toy who gave him a way back to divinity and now he was cowering away.

"I-I did not expect your presence here," Lucifer stammered. "If I had known, I—"

The crow cawed, cutting him off.

"You have failed your task," Morrigan spoke. "You couldn't stop a mortal, and you expect the gods to bestow divinity on you?"

"I can make it right," Lucifer immediately replied. "The next trial will be his last. I will not fail again."

Morrigan didn't respond right away. Instead, her vessel jumped back on the tree.

"You had better not," Morrigan warned, as the crow's body trembled. "Or there will be consequences far worse than the life you're living now."

Before Lucifer could reply, the golden glow in the crow's eyes faded. Its body fell to the ground, turning into a pile of dust as it did. Watching the crow die, Lucifer let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

"...damn you, YuWon!"