Chapter 248
Breath of Destruction.
The hellfire that boiled from the Dragon Emperor's heart erupted in a straight line through Kamish's Wrath.
FWOOSH!
The immense heat that surged forth was suffocating. If it had been a dagger made of ordinary materials, it would have melted, unable to withstand this firepower. But Kamish's Wrath, made from a dragon's tooth, had excellent synergy with the Breath of Destruction. After all, if a dragon's teeth couldn't withstand it, their fangs wouldn't remain intact every time they breathed fire. Perhaps it was the same for Nidhögg. However, while its bones and teeth might be able to withstand the Breath of Destruction, its soft palate was a different story.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
The Breath of Destruction finally melted through the palate of Nidhögg, which had swallowed Suho and Esil, and pierced a hole straight through its head.
KRRRRRRRRRR—!
But…
Was it because it had seven heads? Nidhögg didn't die just because a small hole was pierced in one of its skulls. Rather, it clenched its jaw even harder to chew Suho and Esil.
CRACK—!
"Ugh!" As a result, Esil's leg, supporting the mouth's roof instead of Suho, finally broke, unable to withstand the force. But she didn't even scream. Instead, the moment her leg broke, she gritted her teeth, bent the other one, and supported the palate with her back.
"I'm… still okay, so keep going!" Esil shouted at Suho's back, trying to endure as long as possible.
At her cry from, veins popped out on the back of Suho's hand, gripping Kamish's Wrath.
"Just a little bit! A little bit more!" Sweat trickled down Suho's forehead as he continued to unleash the destructive beam, cutting off the snake's head bit by bit.
This overwhelmingly powerful destructive beam consumed an enormous amount of mana. And its recoil was as great as its power. Even turning it sideways like this wasn't easy. But…
It was worth it. The hole in the creature's head was widening as Suho's destructive beam gradually moved sideways.
"I'm going to… cut it off…!"
KIIYAAAAAAAAAAAA—!
"…Ah!"
'He did it!'
Finally, Nidhögg, with its neck half cut off, couldn't bear the pain, opened its mouth wide, and let out a scream. At the same time, Esil was freed from the pressure that was about to crush her whole body. And she could finally look ahead.
"…!"
A large hole was open, melted by the hellfire. Big enough to see the World Tree clearly! But an even greater crisis came through that opening.
KRAAAAAAAA!
KYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY—!
Nidhögg's other six heads, feeling the pain, began to take notice one by one. At that moment, a tremendous killing intent focused on Suho and Esil. And through the hole pierced by the Breath of Destruction, their eyes met.
[Nidhögg, the serpent that gnaws at the World Tree, is watching you.]
Shiver.
As six pairs of eyes simultaneously turned towards them, Suho stiffened. Just making eye contact, he felt his whole body tingling from the tremendous pressure.
[Effect: 'Fear' is activated.]
[All of the player's stats are reduced by 50% for 1 minute.]
"…Ha." Suho, facing those gazes, let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
The Breath of Destruction was cut off due to the effect that temporarily reduced his stats. His mana was already half depleted, and now it was halved again. Even if he used the Breath of Destruction again, his magic power wasn't enough to deal with all six remaining heads.
[Potions and the shop cannot be used in the current location, and status will not be recovered even if the level increases.]
Moreover, the use of potions was restricted because he was dragged here by the 'Unknown' skill.
KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!
Just then, Nidhögg's six heads roared at Suho simultaneously. At that moment, those who were most worried about Suho appeared. The dead Monarchs.
FWOOOOSH—!
[King of the Snow Folk, the Monarch of Frost, causes a blizzard to obscure Nidhogg's vision.]
A bitterly cold blizzard swept in, and one of Nidhogg's mouth, which had been melting from the intense heat, was now frozen by the cold.
[Queen of Insects, the Monarch of Plagues, attempts to poison Nidhogg but fails.]
[Queen of Insects, the Monarch of Plagues, attempts to poison Nidhogg but fails.]
[King of Beasts, the Monarch of Fangs, urges you to run away quickly!]
But then…
"Suho…" Esil, who had somehow approached Suho, spoke with difficulty. She crawled all the way here with her limb broken.
"R-run…" They had to run away now. She wanted to say those words, but Esil couldn't even finish her sentence because of her teeth chattering.
Even Suho was this way, so the fear Esil was feeling was indescribable. But the survival instinct engraved in her soul was making the most rational yet inefficient choice at this moment.
"Th-this…" Esil's trembling hand held out something towards Suho.
Rustle.
"…This is?" Suho's eyes widened as he confirmed its identity.
'A leaf of the World Tree' A small leaf that was attached to the end of the branch that Esil barely managed to touch with her fingertips while falling was held in her palm.
Ding!
[Obtained Item: 'Leaf of the World Tree'.]
Esil placed the leaf in Suho's palm with her trembling hand. Her fearful eyes looked directly at his as she spoke,
"E-eat this."
'…!'
Even at this moment, Esil's instincts were whispering that she, not Suho, should eat this leaf. That if she ate this leaf, she might be able to evolve into a stronger demon like Vulcan. But…
Esil knew herself well.
'I… am weak.'
This single leaf. How much stronger could she become just by eating this one thing? It wasn't like she was going to eat all the leaves on the branch like Vulcan. No, forget about getting stronger, could she even escape from here in the first place? But Suho would be different.
"You… eat it." Esil had no doubt that it would be different if Suho ate it, not her.
"At least you… run away." She didn't know how much it would help, but she wanted Suho to at least escape from this place.
Squeeze
With that feeling, Esil placed a small leaf of the World Tree in Suho's hand. And then…
Ding!
A miracle happened. The moment he touched it, an information window popped up before Suho's eyes.
[Item: Leaf of the World Tree]
[Acquisition Difficulty: ??]
[Type: Material]
[A leaf plucked from a branch of the World Tree.]
[The leaf of the World Tree possesses strong vitality]
[It is used as an ingredient for top-grade magic reagents.]
[It is a main ingredient for potions.]
'Potion ingredient?!' Suho's eyes widened. Was it a coincidence that he found an ingredient used to make potions in this place where he couldn't use the shop or potions?
'No.' Seeing Esil's current state, no one would dare to dismiss it as luck.
Crunch!
Suho unhesitatingly put the leaf of the World Tree in his mouth and chewed. Then something amazing happened.
Whoosh—
A blue energy enveloped his entire body. The feeling of fresh air entering and leaving his lungs. It was a familiar sensation that Suho experienced every day.
Ding!
[All abnormal statuses are recovered.]
Ah, so it was a potion ingredient. His depleted health and mana were fully restored. He felt that the reward for the daily quest created by Kandiaru might be based on the leaves of the World Tree. The proof was this:
[The effect of Kandiaru's Blessing: 'Health and longevity' is temporarily strengthened.]
[Resisting Debuff: 'Fear'.]
His body, which had become heavy from Nidhögg's killing intent, felt light again. At that moment, Suho realized what he had to do.
'Rulers Authority!'
Step! Step! Step! Step!
Suho boldly stepped on the air and soared.
Kraaaaaaaaaaa!
Nidhögg's six heads opened their mouths towards Suho, emitting a more ferocious killing intent than ever. It was the moment when the creatures, who had been staring blankly at Suho, finally turned hostile towards him.
[Nidhögg, the serpent that gnaws at the World Tree, is wary of the Rulers Authority.]
[Nidhögg, the serpent that gnaws at the World Tree, is hostile towards you.]
Crack!
Crack!
Kraaa!
Suho twisted and turned in the air, dodging their bites by a hair's breadth. As a result, only the innocent branches of the World Tree that they were clinging to were snapped and fell, unable to withstand their struggles. That was exactly what he wanted.
"Come!" Suho shot Kamish's Wrath towards the falling branches of the World Tree.
Whoosh—
Although he called them 'branches,' that was only from the perspective of the World Tree. To Suho, each one of them was gigantic. He wasn't actually aiming for the branches, but the numerous 'leaves' growing on them.
Slash—!
Kamish's Wrath slashed through the air. And the leaves cut from the World Tree all flew towards Suho thanks to the Ruler's Authority.
Crunch!
Suho immediately chewed and swallowed another leaf.
[All abnormal statuses are recovered.]
It was the same this time. His health and mana were recharged as if he had leveled up. But there was a critical problem.
[The Dragon King, the Monarch of Destruction, urges you to look at Nidhögg's wounds.]
As Antares said, Suho wasn't the only one who could eat the leaves of the World Tree.
Crunch!
Munch! Munch!
One of Nidhögg's heads was already chewing and swallowing a nearby branch of the World Tree whole. And then, the wound where Suho had cut off half its neck earlier began to heal rapidly.
'So this is what it means to be a snake that gnaws at the World Tree.'
"Esil! Open your mouth!" Suho shouted towards Esil, who was still inside, before the wound completely healed,
"…?!"
Whoosh—!
Like a spring breeze, the leaves of the World Tree swirled and flew… Esil, prepared to die, was startled to see the numerous leaves flying towards her and opened her mouth.
Suho chuckled at that foolish expression and said, "Debt repaid."
A favor compensated a thousandfold… Just before the creature's wounds completely healed, all the leaves reached Esil.
Whoosh—
The wounds completely healed, and Esil disappeared from sight. But Suho wasn't worried.
"Come back stronger, Esil."
It didn't take long. The head of Nidhögg that swallowed Esil suddenly swelled up. And…
Crackle—!
With a tremendous roar, it burst. But there was no blood or flesh in that explosion. Just… darkness.
['Primordial Darkness' is inherited by a new Monarch.]
Whoosh—
Darkness swirled and beyond, Esil's eyes were gleaming.
[Nidhögg, the serpent that gnaws at the World Tree, retreats.] The six remaining heads hurriedly retreated.
Like a lizard cutting off its tail and running away, it abandoned one of its heads and was trying to escape without hesitation. The darkness that originally came from the King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, Baran, now had a new master.
Whoosh—!
At the center of the swirling black, Esil Radiru, who absorbed the Primordial Darkness, was floating in the air with her hair fluttering. Looking at Suho with a more mature and serious gaze than usual. But the title of the new master recognized by the Primordial Darkness was a little different from that of the Demon King Baran.
[The King of Demons, the Monarch of Gluttony, is born.]
'Monarch of Gluttony?'
It probably meant she was a glutton. Before he could even finish that thought, Suho and Esil's minds were ejected out of the Sea of The Afterlife.
Whoosh—!
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" The sudden cheers of the demons resounded.
Suho and Esil had returned to reality in the same position as before, with Esil about to receive the Item: 'Baran's Horn' from Suho. But she didn't panic and knelt with grace.
"…Thank you, my liege." Esil lowered herself and bowed deeply to the priest who made her king.
[The King of Demons, the Monarch of Gluttony, pledges allegiance to you.]
[The King of Demons, the Monarch of Gluttony, offers you the 'Blessing of Gluttony'.]
[Blessing: Blessing of Gluttony]
[Blessing of the King of Demons, the Monarch of Gluttony.]
[The Monarch of Gluttony, Esil Radiru, pledges allegiance to you.]
[You can now absorb and digest the nutrients of the mixed world more efficiently.]
[Effect: 'Gluttony']
[Increases experience points gained by 300%.]