Chapter 23: The Teddy Bear Phenomenon

The Six Great Villainous Organizations of the World, the White Lotus Cult.

A destructive religious sect devoted to the belief that humanity ,

could be saved upon the incarnation of ‘Maitreya.’
This cult, driven by fanatical ambition,

had transcended its origins as a religious group to become one of the most infamous villainous organizations in the world.

The leader of the White Lotus Cult was more than a symbolic figure; they were a prophet,

a recipient of revelations, and the orchestrator of a new order.

They stood as both a spiritual guide and a military commander.

The room was shrouded in darkness.

A single candle flickered, casting a faint glow that illuminated an ancient book of prophecies spread across a massive table.
The prophecy book turned its pages on its own, each sheet moving as if it breathed, alive.
Every time a finger brushed its surface, the book quivered lightly, whispering faintly in an unrecognizable tongue.

Eyes closed, the cult leader read the flow of the world.

At that moment, his eyes snapped open.

“Xiaolin is dead.”

Xiaolin the cult’s symbolic figure and most trusted priestess was known for her unparalleled,

ability to manipulate spiritual beings through the [Art of Soul Separation].

She was a key player in the leader’s grand design.

“The priestess capable of human sacrifice is dead? Not even the Cheon Ocheon could have killed her…”

Her death marked a monumental shift in his plans.

It wasn’t foretold in the prophecy book.

The leader tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table,

staring at the changing pages of the ancient text.

The reality written within was in flux.

“There’s something in Korea…”

Zz.
The thought of such a being suddenly surfacing was unthinkable.

Could it be [Moomyeong] resurfacing?

As the leader of the White Lotus Cult,

he had relied on the prophecy book to monopolize fortuitous encounters and manipulate the flow of the world.

Yet, when confronted with that figure, he felt a wall of utter perfection.

A man who, as if knowing everything, stormed in and obliterated the White Lotus Cult’s sanctum.

Even now, recalling [Moomyeong] sent shivers coursing through his body.

Despite the leader’s ability to gather innumerable secrets and treasures through the prophecy book,

the gap between him and Moomyeong was insurmountable.

How could a mere human be so overwhelmingly powerful? It was beyond comprehension.

The thought struck him if a [Constellation] were to descend to earth, would it possess such might?

Suddenly, the prophecy book fluttered on its own.

Despite the still air, its pages turned, compelled by an undeniable force.
The future etched within was shifting.

Gazing at it in silence, the cult leader spoke calmly, his voice steady amidst the flickering candlelight.

“Contact the Blood Sect’s leader.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

Despite its subdued tone, his voice carried an overwhelming weight that filled the room.

The cult leader’s personal guardians bowed their heads, acknowledging his command without hesitation.

The Blood Sect, a fearsome organization that worshipped violence and transformed brutality into an extreme art form,

was known for offering sacrifices to chaos, reveling in blood and death.

The prophecy book demanded collaboration with the Blood Demon.

“Cheonma…”

In accordance with the book’s will, it was time to find a new priestess.

Lucifer howled.
The giant god writhed in rage.

The two forces clashed relentlessly, their battle raging as if to consume each other entirely.
It was a fight so grand and overwhelming that it stirred the very foundations of existence a battle of the strongest entities in the world’s lore.

The Colossus radiated a monstrous aura, cloaked in the manifestation of endless curses and all the malice of the world.
Each swing of its massive arm seemed to warp space itself, as though reality teetered on the edge of collapse.

Lucifer, in stark contrast, was brimming with boundless arrogance, his obsidian wings spread wide as he met the Colossus head-on.

Their struggle seemed endless, as if the entire world could crumble under the weight of their duel.
Time and again, their souls were shattered and then regenerated, locked in a vicious cycle of destruction and rebirth.

Within the angel’s Halo known as the “Chamber of Truth” the two combatants began to tire.

“Should we reconcile?”
“Perhaps we should.”

Inside the Chamber of Truth, they realized their battle yielded nothing.

The chains of anger and hatred that bound them had unraveled,

leaving them to confront their sins, misdeeds, and destructive choices with growing regret.

The angel’s Halo acted as a mechanism of purification, guiding their battered spirits toward redemption.

“We’ve walked the wrong path,” one muttered.
“Indeed. Why did I even do all that? It makes no sense now,” the other replied.

Lucifer’s voice carried an unfamiliar tone of remorse.

The malevolence and pride he had clung to for millennia dissipated within this space.

All the emotions that once shackled him dissolved, leaving only his core a purity that had been lost to him since the beginning.

It was peace. It was goodness.

The Colossus, too, underwent a transformation.

The destructive nature that defined his very essence melted away within the Halo’s light.

The insatiable hunger for annihilation that once filled him had been cleansed, replaced by a tranquil heart.

No longer imprisoned by the darkness of their past,

the Chamber of Truth had purified their souls, turning them into something entirely new.

Now, they gazed at the angel with the kind of affection one might have for a beloved family member.
They even found themselves admiring the sight of the angel peacefully clutching a teddy bear in sleep, her innocence disarming.

“Wow, who knew such pure beings could exist in this world? My heart feels so… cleansed.”

“I used to be the incarnation of evil, but looking at the angel, I feel like I can’t do anything bad anymore. It’s like my heart is melting.”

“Yeah. I never really understood what it meant to be kind or good before… but now I think I get it.”

“Strength isn’t everything. ”

“Protecting and caring for someone that’s what real strength is.”

They spoke like neighborhood elders reminiscing about lessons learned, watching over the angel with warm smiles.

In stark contrast to their earlier rivalry, they were now slowly learning the meaning of compassion.

Just as a sense of “love and peace” began to flourish in the Chamber of Truth, an unexpected presence burst in.

“Graaaaaah! Angel, you filthy wench! I swear I’ll kill you!”

It was Xiaolin.

The Colossus and Lucifer turned to each other, their expressions betraying a profound sense of disbelief.

“What… did I just hear?”

“Did the newbie just call the angel a filthy wench?”

In an instant, the looks in Lucifer and the Colossus’s eyes shifted.

Slowly, Lucifer and the Colossus turned their heads toward Xiaolin.

The aura of peace and love that had begun to bloom between them twisted and morphed into something dark and menacing.

Overwhelming energy erupted from their bodies, suffusing the space with a crushing intensity.

“Did you just… insult the angel?”

Lucifer’s voice was no longer gentle.

His eyes darkened, revealing the shadow of his demonic nature a being of arrogance and wrath once feared throughout the cosmos.

The obsidian flames licking at his fingertips flared to life.

“You insolent fool. This is blasphemy.”

The Colossus’s voice was deep and resonant, shaking the air with its weight.

His massive form began to grow, radiating an aura as if it could tear the heavens and earth apart.

Red, malevolent eyes opened across his flesh, glowing with an ominous light.

His expanding power filled the room, suffocating any resistance.

As he took a single step forward, the ground trembled, and it felt as though the earth itself might split apart.

Gone was the warmth in their eyes; mercy no longer had a place in their expressions.

Xiaolin’s pupils quaked with terror, as if a seismic shift had rippled through her very being.

“What… what are you two? Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?” she shrieked, her voice rising in panic.

Her desperate cries rang out.

“Discipline,” Lucifer said calmly.
“Sometimes, a good thrashing is the only cure for insolence,” the Colossus added grimly.

The realization struck Xiaolin like a thunderbolt she had made a grave mistake.

These were not ordinary beings.

This was the crushing presence of world bosses.

Not just one, but two.

Frantically, she turned to flee.

Her feet scrambled beneath her as she tried to escape their overwhelming presence.

But there was no outrunning them.

“How… how did they get so close already…?”

Before she could comprehend it, Lucifer’s hand rested heavily on her shoulder.

“Welcome.”

“First time in the Chamber of Truth?”

Her soul was torn asunder in that instant.

“Aaaaagh! What is this? It hurts so much! Please, stop! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Stop, I beg you!”

No amount of pleading or screaming could earn her respite.

The two former villains had no intention of showing her mercy.

Those who had once committed the greatest evils were often the harshest judges.

They knew better than anyone that Xiaolin’s defiance could not be tamed with leniency.

The excruciating pain of her soul being forcibly ripped apart caused Xiaolin to wail in agony.

“Aaaaaaaah! Kill me! Just let me die!”

But death wasn’t an option in this space.

The Chamber of Truth was no ordinary realm.

Even as her soul was torn apart, it continuously regenerated, forcing her to endure endless torment.

It was a suffering unlike anything she had ever experienced.

Her legs were severed.
Her head was split in two.
Her arms were torn from her body.

And yet, the Colossus and Lucifer did not stop.

This was discipline.

“Hmph.”

“Master?”

I focused on the screen.

Despite the chaos, I noticed something peculiar though many had transformed into undead, their souls remained intact.

This meant they could be revived, a small glimmer of hope amidst the horror.

If their souls had been obliterated, saving them would have been a far greater challenge.

Perhaps it was because I had become an angel, but turning away from the suffering of others now felt impossible.

All I had wanted was for them to be free of pain, to find the kind of restful sleep I had finally experienced.

That was it.

Yet, strangely enough, the news was filled with stories about me.

“Yes, I’m reporting live from the Korean Hunter Association’s headquarters here in Seoul. ”

“This is where Xiaolin made her so-called pilgrimage.”

” Despite the massive crowds, the human casualties weren’t as severe as initially feared.”

“Can you see this? Zz is reversing the undead transformation! It’s almost surreal, like witnessing a true miracle. ”

“Is this what it means to be a saint?”

“An interview? ”

“Well, even though they turned into undead right on the front lawn of the Hunter Association,

there were plenty of skilled hunters to respond immediately. ”

“That’s why wait, instead of eliminating the undead outright, they captured them.”

” And now someone like Zz can purify them back into humans? It’s nothing short of miraculous.”

China also released a statement today.

After the devastating undead crisis caused by Xiaolin’s betrayal,

the Chinese government expressed deep gratitude toward Zz and the Korean government for their assistance.

According to the official statement:
“While China suffered catastrophic losses due to villain Xiaolin’s betrayal,

Zz a hunter from Korea emerged suddenly to purify countless undead and save innumerable lives.”

” Zz’s healing and purification abilities played a decisive role in mitigating the national disaster. ”

“This has highlighted the importance of Korea-China cooperation in the field of hunters.”

Additionally, China’s top-ranked hunter, Tianwaichen, remarked:
“Thanks to Zz and the Korean government’s swift support, the damage was contained. ”

“China and its hunters, including Mount Taishan, will never forget this.”

” We hope this incident leads to even closer hunter cooperation between our nations.”

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they plan to send a direct message of thanks to the Korean Hunter Association and Zz.

They are also conducting additional discussions to establish a joint response strategy for similar events in the future.

Meanwhile, debates raged among experts on various channels.

“What exactly is Zz’s identity?”
“I’d say, probably a man?”
“Based on their performance in the World Boss MVP interviews, they’re likely in their 30s.”
“But what about Zz’s abilities? Especially the power to reverse the undead transformation into humans?”
“I can confidently say this: Zz is likely a national-level healer. This isn’t just ordinary healing.”

“A national-level healer? What evidence do you have to back that claim?”
“Reversing undead to humans? That’s not something any regular healer could do.”

” Zz’s power is practically divine. If this kind of healing exists, it must be evaluated as national-level.”

“Before Zz appeared, Xiaolin was regarded as the top healer. ”

“But now, it’s clear Zz surpasses her in every way.”
“That woman wasn’t a healer; she was a necromancer!”
“Stop mentioning that cursed woman”
“Uhh… this is live broadcasting!”

Something felt strange.

“Why do people keep calling me an old man?” I muttered.

A man in his 30s?

I’m a teenage girl!

Kiriel offered an answer.
“Master, the vast divine energy you’ve accumulated has made your halo,

and wings so radiant that ordinary humans cannot perceive you properly.”

“Uh… what now?”

“In simple terms, you’re too dazzling. Cameras can’t even capture your form.”

” As a result, humans are left with no choice but to guess.”

“Hmm… So they can’t see my super-cute and pretty self?”

“That is correct! Master is exceptionally cute and beautiful, but in this case, it’s not merely about your appearance. ”

“It’s the difference in divine rank that renders you unobservable to them.”

“Then who can see me?”

“Only those with special abilities, equipment, or beings of national-level or higher might be able to perceive you.”

Thinking back on the situation, it had all felt a bit odd at the time.

But now, it seemed like all the pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place.

‘So even the Heavenly Demon couldn’t see me because I was simply invisible to them.’

I didn’t particularly mind if my identity was revealed.

Still, for the sake of a peaceful, restful life, staying out of the spotlight seemed like the better option.

Thankfully.

Just then, a video started playing on a nearby screen.

It was a highlight reel from some personal broadcast. In it, my glowing teddy bear was pummeling Xiaolin.

“Master, your teddy bear is also gaining immense popularity,” Kiriel remarked.

“This?”

I tilted my head and pointed to the teddy bear in my arms.

Sure, it had a satisfying feel when swung around, but… why?

Other than being fluffy yet surprisingly firm,

and heavy perfect for hugging while sleeping it didn’t have any particularly remarkable qualities.

“Master, ever since that broadcast footage spread worldwide,

the video has amassed billions of views on various platforms.”

” Yes, the teddy bear has been turned into merchandise and is now a global sensation. ”

“The demand is especially high in China.”

The teddy bear…

The same bear I’d carried around as a comforting companion was now a phenomenon of international fame.

Somehow, the whole situation was both amusing and bewildering.

“Zz’s teddy bear is truly iconic.”

” Why it appeared in a battle involving a national-level hunter remains a mystery, but I’m buying one immediately.”
“You can now purchase the exact teddy bear Zz used!”
“Daddy bought me the teddy bear! Daddy is the best!”
“So Zz was actually the teddy bear all along?”

I had no words.

There was only one thing left to do.

Sleep.