Chapter 315

An unexpected winter came to the Sea of The Afterlife. White frost began to form on the bark of the World Tree from the harsh blizzard raging around it, and that coldness spread to the roots. White ice began to spread in all directions on the surface of the black water of the distant abyss.

In that form it infinitely spread out like a spiderweb. No, like countless snowflakes. The ice patterns gradually became more and more complex, and eventually, a giant crystal grew on the surface, blooming into an ice flower. The geometric patterns drawn by the white frost shone in different forms every moment, moving and dancing as if they were alive. Like a kaleidoscope.

It was a truly spectacular sight. The white world spreading out, centered around the World Tree.

The ice garden endlessly expanding. True winter had finally come to the sea of death. Under the blessing of the newly born King of the Snow Folk, the Nightmare Monarch Sirka.

'You too… try to endure it.' Sirka spoke to the World Tree.

'The winter we've suffered.'

And in that form, the image of Sillad suddenly overlapped with hers. Indeed, the previous Frost Monarch was recalling a very old memory through Sirka's eyes.

His fellow elves fleeing the cold. The corpses of those devoured and killed by the rampaging Elvenwood. And the form of Elvenwood itself, eventually freezing to death, unable to withstand the winter…

Suddenly, he wondered. 

How long would it last? 

Could the World Tree really withstand this harsh winter?

What if the World Tree froze like Elvenwood?

What would happen to the Sea of The Afterlife?

What then?

But Sillad already knew the answer. 

[…Spring will come.] Sillad's voice suddenly echoed.

The World Tree had already been dead for a long time. He didn't know if it was because of Nidhögg, who was gnawing at its roots, or because the Absolute Being who planted it here had died. But he knew one thing for sure.

[When spring comes, new life sprouts.]

Knowing that…

This harsh, cold wind was no longer a nightmare.

When this harsh winter passed…

This place too would…

Groan!

[KYAAA?!]

Suddenly, Nidhögg thrashed violently and desperately escaped from Beru's grasp. It began to climb up the World Tree to escape the cold. He smacked his lips and watched the creature's rapidly retreating form.

Beru, whose body had been enlarged by the power of the apostle, was gradually shrinking. The Nightmare's power weakening.

[The Nightmare Sanctuary is collapsing.]

[Debuff: 'Nightmare' is dispersing.]

Crack!

Suddenly, the nightmare realm that had dominated the surroundings began to crumble like a sandcastle.

[N-no…!] The Nightmare Apostle screamed.

His plan had failed! He was confident that he had considered every possible scenario, but it had been easily thwarted by a single, unexpected variable.

[…I simply lacked information.] He gritted his teeth and glared at Suho with a venomous expression.

[If I had more time! If I had researched you a little more…!]

Suho stopped the onslaught and shrugged at that. There was no reason to attack him anymore. As the surrounding nightmares crumbled, the Nightmare Apostle's form, which had taken Sirka's appearance and transformed into a dark elf, was also scattering. Suho smirked at his frustration and spoke,

'Why? Don't you like evolution? Sometimes, failure is also a stepping stone for growth.'

The Nightmare Apostle, who was about to retort, paused and closed his mouth. Then he finally lowered his head and muttered weakly,

[Is this also… part of the process of evolution…?] There was no longer any anger or resistance in his voice. His eyes, now calm, looked at the surrounding scenery.

[…That makes sense.]

Sirka's harsh winter was encroaching upon his nightmare from all directions. Habits were truly terrifying.

Even as he was being helplessly defeated and dying, his mind was habitually going over his past research.

Evolution.

What was the evolution he had been so desperately researching? And… facing death, he finally came to see it from a completely different perspective.

[…Well, sometimes the evolution of the world takes precedence over the evolution of the individual.

Especially for a world like this, a world that lost its god and is dying.]

'Don't just mumble to yourself and say it in a way I can understand.'

[I'm basically saying I lost.] A smile had formed on the Nightmare Apostle's face. It was an expression that seemed somewhat disappointed, but at the same time, relieved.

[Seriously. How did this happen? For me to become… fertilizer for evolution…]

Whoosh—

With those words, his body completely crumbled. Like a dream that disappears when you wake up, he scattered into dust.

Ding!

[You have defeated the Nightmare Apostle.]

And as if on cue, system messages appeared before Suho.

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!…]

[KIEEEEEEEEK!]

Beru's hand suddenly grabbed the scattering remains of the Nightmare Apostle from the air. And he smacked his lips chuckling.

[It would be a waste to lose this power.]

Beru had already devoured the Nightmare Apostle's brain and consumed a portion of his memories.

So he could tell. The moment they left this place, he wouldn't be able to use the power of nightmares anymore.

He didn't care about that intangible skill. Although it was effective even against Nidhögg, it was ultimately a nameless power that was only useful for stalling. But there was something else. All the research records of the Nightmare Apostle still remained within Beru. So he could use his unfinished studies to do this.

Crack!

Suddenly, the last remnants of the Nightmare Apostle began to gather in Beru's hand. The traces of his enlightenment, research, and experiments were merging into one.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Smaller and denser. Beru used his 'Devour' ability to compress all that energy. Before this nightmare ended, he scraped together its remaining traces. Finally, a small crystal formed on Beru's palm. It was shining pink, a substance much purer and denser than Starpieces.

[Little Monarch.] Beru respectfully offered it to Suho.

[I present to you the crystal containing all the research and enlightenment of the Nightmare Apostle.]

Ding!

[Obtained Item: 'Seed of Evolution'.]

'Seed?'

Suho received the special seed that Beru extracted from the Nightmare Apostle. It was an unexpected reward. But he didn't have the time to examine it because the succession ceremony was finally over. Just like that, as time began to flow again, Suho and Beru were ejected from 'Sirka's Dream.' At that last moment, Suho saw the World Tree being covered in frost. And he smiled.

'I guess I can use that.'

Flash!

When he opened his eyes again, Suho and Beru were standing on a snow-covered field. They had returned to reality. And at the same time, all the battles that were raging in this land ended.

The villains who were possessed by the Outer Gods,

The power of nightmares that sprouted from their blood,

And even the harsh winter that swept across the snowfield,

All of them disappeared in an instant. The Hunters of the Korean Association looked around in confusion.

"Wh-what?"

"What just happened?"

"Is it over?"

"Why all of a sudden?"

"Don't let your guard down…!"

But no matter how vigilantly they looked around, nothing else appeared. It felt like they had just woken up from a dream. Among them, only Woo Jinchul instinctively turned his gaze to look for Suho. 

And there, Suho and Beru were already approaching the pillar where Sirka was trapped. The hard ice crumbled, and Sirka confidently walked out from within. Her appearance was still that of a small and frail ice elf. But the tremendous darkness contained within…

'Oh my god…'

It was enough to shock Woo Jinchul. It was a kind of survival instinct. Woo Jinchul, who had witnessed the Monarchs a long time ago, instinctively realized that this small girl had become a Monarch. Sirka, who had successfully returned with the Primordial Darkness, smiled brightly at Suho.

"I've returned."

Suho smiled back.

"Good work."

"Heh…"

Suho's large hand gently patted Sirka's head, and her eyes curved into crescents. Her long ears, characteristic of ice elves, folded back. But it couldn't end just like this.

"And…"

Sirka, reborn as the King of the Snow Folk and the Nightmare Monarch, sincerely greeted Suho once again. With the utmost respect.

"Thank you for your help, Little Monarch."

Ding!

[The King of the Snow Folk, the Nightmare Monarch, pledges allegiance to you.]

[The King of the Snow Folk, the Nightmare Monarch, offers you the 'Nightmare of the World Tree'.]

[Blessing: 'Nightmare of the World Tree']

[Blessing of the King of the Snow Folk, the Nightmare Monarch.]

[The Nightmare Monarch Sirka pledges allegiance to you.]

[Winter has come to the Sea of The Afterlife, centered around the World Tree.]

[This harsh winter will gradually spread throughout the Sea of The Afterlife.]

[Effect: 'Nightmare of the World Tree']

[The effect of Debuff: 'Death' which occurs in the Sea of The Afterlife, is weakened.]

"Oh?" Suho's eyes widened at the unexpected reward.

Debuff: 'Death,' which decreased HP in real-time when you entered the Sea of The Afterlife. The restriction caused by it was now being weakened by the cold!

"It's a bit ironic that the colder the Sea of The Afterlife gets, the less likely you are to die."

[That's why it's a nightmare for the World Tree.] Beru quickly explained. He had gained much more knowledge thanks to the Nightmare Apostle's research. He had evolved to be an even better explanation bug!

[It seems like Debuff: 'Death' exists to protect the World Tree, which is somewhere in the Sea of The Afterlife.]

"To prevent anyone from finding the World Tree?"

[That must be it. It's that important.]

"Conversely, it means it's now much easier to find the World Tree."

[Do you really plan to go in yourself? It's still dangerous. Maybe later, when the cold has completely covered the Sea of The Afterlife…]

"No. It's more meaningful now. And I'm not going in myself." Suho grinned with a satisfied expression.

He immediately summoned Harmakan and conveyed the new orders to all the demons in the Sea of The Afterlife. That news spread like wildfire, eventually reaching the ears of Esil Radiru, the King of Demons, who was on the largest ship exploring the Sea.

"Finally, some good news." Esil smirked.

"I thought I felt a breeze coming from somewhere."

The Sea of The Afterlife was always still and unchanging, except for the attacks of the hungry souls lurking in the abyss. But a faint breeze had been blowing from somewhere since a while ago. It was still too far away to be called a 'cold wind,' but the 'familiar scent' carried on that breeze was important. And Esil knew what that fragrance was. A smell that made her mouth water even from afar…

"Finally found the direction." Esil pointed towards the source of the wind and ordered all the demons in the Sea of The Afterlife,

"Turn the ship!"

Finally, all the demons' ships began to sail towards the World Tree.