Chapter 338
He had always wondered.
Suho had encountered Nidhogg several times before. The purpose was always to help the successors of other Monarchs inherit the Primordial Darkness. And without exception, those successors could sense, among Nidhogg's heads, the specific one containing the darkness meant for them. It was a sense akin to instinct, a phenomenon possible because it was their ceremony. Perhaps Nidhogg itself deliberately revealed it to devour the successors.
A so-called 'bait.' An action to lure prey into its own mouth. And without exception, all those successors were drawn by that bait, unhesitatingly leaping into Nidhogg's maw themselves. That series of events was the succession ceremony. And two choices opened up before those devoured by Nidhogg. Either be consumed by the darkness as they were. Or, conversely, devour that darkness and emerge outside. If they lacked the qualifications and chose the former, they would become one with the great and vast Primordial Darkness, melting away within Nidhogg's belly. If they chose the latter, they would proudly overcome the trial within, embrace the Primordial Darkness in their vessel, and be reborn as a new Monarch.
'So what about me?'
Suho had witnessed all those succession ceremonies until now. And he couldn't help but wonder each time…
'So which one holds the darkness meant for me?'
He simply couldn't tell. What his own darkness was. Which of Nidhogg's heads contained it. No matter how hard he looked, he simply couldn't notice it.
'The others recognized it immediately upon seeing it, so why can't I? Could it be that I still lack the qualifications?'
Impossible. He was a qualified candidate who had overcome the Dragon King's trials three times. In fact, hadn't he even obtained the title 'Qualified for the title of Dragon King' as a result? Then why? Even though he had met Nidhogg several times already, his eyes still saw nothing. He simply couldn't recognize which darkness was his. He had even asked the Dragon King Antares directly about this…
– Could it be… because I am my father's son?
He was the son of the Shadow Monarch. And the 'Shadow Monarch' was already a being embodying the Primordial Darkness itself. So, having been born his son, it was entirely possible that this body couldn't embrace another darkness. Indeed, wasn't he already using the Shadow Power like his father? So, even if his qualifications as the Dragon King had been thoroughly verified through three trials, could it be that Nidhogg itself refused to choose him…? But Antares, hearing Suho's question, answered with an arrogant laugh.
[Not all Primordial Darkness is the same.]
His expression was utterly haughty.
[I am Antares, King of Dragons, Monarch of Destruction. The strongest Monarch who reigned above all others. Would being chosen by the darkness I harbored be as easy as it was for the other Monarchs?]
Indeed, Antares was the only being capable of confronting the Shadow Monarch single-handedly.
[Though I may have lost the war that required legions to clash against legions, as a Monarch, my rank was equal to that of the Shadow Monarch Ashborn. That was I, Antares.]
This was the pride of the Dragon King Antares, the foundation of his power, unmixed with exaggeration. As proof, the burn mark from the Dragon King's flames remained clearly on Sung Jinwoo's hand. Like a brand. As if to say, though I lost the war, I was never inferior to you in combat. Never forget.
[Of course, I do not mean the succession ceremonies of the other successors were easy. But it is true they became decidedly easier thanks to you volunteering as the priest.]
It was clearly easier. The pilgrimage path was skipped entirely thanks to Suho's unknown ability; they went across the Sea of the Afterlife instantly and arrived directly before Nidhogg. What if Suho hadn't been there? If Suho hadn't faithfully fulfilled his role as the priest? Originally, all those successors were fated to wander aimlessly in the Sea of the Afterlife, never even meeting Nidhogg, ultimately failing to find the edge of the World Tree and returning to nothingness. It wasn't just the Dragon King who saw it that way. Even the other dead Monarchs clicked their tongues at how weak their successors were when they first discovered them. It was only natural, as all those successors were survivors, or perhaps refugees, who had barely survived to the end of the war with the Shadow Monarch. What great power could one expect from such individuals? But ironically, the one who helped those weaklings grow and even aided their succession ceremony was none other than Sung Suho, the son of the Shadow Monarch. Antares chuckled and said.
[Stop the idle thoughts and just get stronger. When the 'time' comes, I myself will drop you into the fire.]
And finally, 'that time' had come.
Right now. Before Suho's eyes. Wearing the same expression as back then, chuckling, Antares readily dropped Suho into the middle of the fiery pit.
[You have accepted the job change Quest.]
[Generating dungeon for the job change Quest.]
Rumble!
A tremor ran through the place. The cave walls crumbled, and the ceiling melted like lava. The intensifying heat began to hotly envelop Suho.
[Kieeeeeeeeek— Young Master…!]
The moment Suho looked around, Beru, calling out to him in surprise, vanished from his sight. The figures of the fanatics fighting him, too. Even the giant door he had entered through. All completely vanished from his view. Thus, Suho was utterly isolated from reality, left alone with the Apostle of Conquest, reborn as a fire spirit through spiritualization. In this space, which had transformed into a complete inferno due to the flames the creature radiated. Suho instantly grasped the situation.
'A dungeon for the job change quest.'
It was different from the Dragon King's trials so far. This time, it was a full-fledged job change quest created by the system. Antares, the Monarch of Destruction, had completely isolated the space from Earth just for the quest. Now that this place had become a 'quest dungeon' disconnected from reality, he could unleash his power freely without destroying the surroundings. Furthermore, because the Apostle of Conquest had recklessly drawn upon the power of the outer universe, Antares had preemptively isolated the dimension to prevent the resulting shockwaves from tearing and collapsing Earth's dimension. Perhaps that was the Apostle of Conquest's underlying intention. Only if Earth's dimension collapsed could a giant hole be opened for the true forces of the Outer Gods to cross over.
[Ignore everything else, and focus only on the trial before you.]
Antares's voice echoed directly in Suho's mind.
[Only 'you' exist here. As this trial is solely for you, no external help can be received. Shadow Soldiers cannot be summoned. Especially, having someone like Beru interfere would be somewhat problematic.]
As soon as his words ended, a system message popped up before Suho's eyes.
Ting.
[Potions and Shop usage are prohibited in the current location. Status will not recover even if level increases.]
Antares had excluded Beru, but the system had blocked even potions and the shop.
[You cannot exit until the job change process is complete.]
Even the escape route…
Suho let out a hollow laugh. "At this rate, it's like being devoured by Nidhogg."
Antares's laughter returned at those words. He hadn't simply isolated the dimension from Earth; he had thrown this entire space, Apostle of Conquest included, into Nidhogg's maw.
[Your intuition is sharp. Indeed, that is so.]
And the Apostle of Conquest, rather than Suho, instinctively realized this fact first and was greatly flustered. To the point of forgetting he was attacking.
[Th-this place is…!]
The Apostle of Conquest was currently receiving an immense shock. An enormous pressure was felt from the surroundings. And, thanks to being composed of a hive mind, he quickly grasped the situation.
[The World Tree! Could this be the energy of the World Tree! Oh God, I have finally found the source that constitutes this universe! Kuhahaha!]
Having been born through Elvenwood, it wasn't difficult for him to recognize the energy of the World Tree, which shared a similar ecology. And instinctively, he quickly realized even the purpose of Nidhogg's existence, within which he now found himself. If Suho had to overcome the Dragon King's trial here, the Apostle of Conquest, who became his opponent, was in the same position.
Fwoosh!
[I see. If I devour you here, I will become the master of this great darkness. That is the 'Succession Ceremony'.]
The conclusion was reached. His gaze, momentarily bewildered by the dimensional isolation, landed on Suho once more. Eyes tinged with burning heat and desire. This was an opportunity. The Primordial Darkness slumbering here was the power of destruction, harboring immense heat. The moment he devoured Suho, he was certain that great power would merge entirely with his own fire. He didn't know if it was because their attributes were the same, or if the Primordial Darkness had already chosen him. Or perhaps, the dead Monarch had intentionally granted him more power for Sung Suho's trial. But regardless of the reason, the conclusion was what mattered.
[Do you know? The vessel I am using was capable of destroying a nation single-handedly with the power of just one individual.]
'National-Level.'
Even without using such a designation, the apostles of the Outer Gods had been searching for such vessels all along. The larger the vessel, the more energy they could draw from the outer universe. And the life or death of the vessel mattered little. Even if it died and turned to ash, they just needed to absorb it as fertilizer for Elvenwood and recreate it. That was the pupa. The 'true fruit' finally completed through the collaboration of the Apostle of Paradise and the Apostle of Conquest…
Flare!
As he raised one hand, the cave ceiling melted.
[But that was merely the vessel of Christopher Reed in 'life'. This current vessel, completed through the combined power of the Apostle of Paradise and myself, is…]
His fingers elongated, turning into flame. That finger pointed towards Suho.
[A 'passage' whose scale cannot be measured by the standards of this universe.]
Crack.
Instantly, cracks appeared all over his body, which was armed in a fiery armor due to spiritualization.
Crrrack.
Those cracks spread like a spiderweb over his entire form. Then, those cracks truly became 'passages,' and the energy of the outer universe began to overflow.
[And bringing forth a great power into this place, enough to shatter this vessel, that was our goal.]
Grin.
He smiled.
[Even if you isolated the dimension, bringing me before the World Tree was your clear mistake. Now, I shall devour all the power here and…]
He began to unleash his power in earnest.
Fwoosh!
[I shall become the Monarch.]
Swiiiiiiiish—
He shot towards Suho. Simultaneously, hundreds, thousands of fiery projectiles rained down from all directions like missiles, targeting Suho. An actual 'rain of fire.' Not a blizzard of harsh cold, but a dazzling typhoon of extreme heat swirled around him.
[Evading is useless.]
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The numerous projectiles exploded everywhere before even reaching Suho's body. But before the heat of the explosions could dissipate, the flames, like living creatures, reformed, transforming into large and small fire butterflies. Those fire butterflies erratically changed direction, targeting Suho's blind spots.
And then, explosion again.
Explosion.
Explosion.
…
Ruuuumble—
Due to the extreme heat, the cave floor began to boil. Rocks melted, turning into lava. From the ceiling, intense heat still shimmered like waves. And all of it lunged towards Suho. If Sirka had faced 'Winter', the entity he was fighting was 'Summer.' A fiery hell, like the heart of an active volcano.
[Ahh… It feels like home. Do you recognize this place?]
Ignoring Suho's trial, Antares asked idly. There was no time to answer, but the reply arose in Suho's mind anyway. This was very similar to the place where Suho had first met the Monarch of Destruction, Antares.
But the Suho of then and the Suho of now were different. Back then, if not for his father's illusion, he would have burned to death right there under Antares's power. But now… it was different.
Flick.
Before he knew it, two daggers: The 'Kamish's Wrath' were held in Suho's hands. Made from the bones of the Red Dragon, they wouldn't melt even when enveloped in the Dragon King's flames; rather, they were special weapons that grew sharper and stronger. Suho gripped the daggers in a reverse hold, his eyes smoldering calmly. That gaze was different from the Apostle of Conquest, who was boiling with madness. Even though he was in the midst of a catastrophe, there was no wavering in his eyes. Rather, they were cold and cool, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, slumbering peacefully at the bottom of a distant abyss…
Flash!
Suho leaped into the heart of the natural disaster assailing him from all directions. And he swung the two daggers held in a reverse grip.
[Using Skill: 'Slaughter'.]
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
As the scorching mana flowing from his second heart, the 'Dragon King's Heart', personally handed over by Antares, intertwined with Kamish's Wrath. He began to mercilessly shred all the calamities flying in from all directions. In that appearance, the Dragon King Antares briefly thought he saw 'His' image. The face of a man who dared to stubbornly attacked him, the Monarch of Destruction, long ago. 'His' son asked Antares.
"You said I couldn't summon Shadow Soldiers. Then what about my own shadow?"
[…!]
He didn't ask seeking a response. He could just try it himself.
[Shadow Extraction Lv.2 – Shape Transformation]
[Shadow Power.]
[No Mana Required.]
[Arbitrarily changes the form of a Shadow Soldier.]
Suho changed his own shadow, no, his own soul.
"Arise."
At that moment, from beneath Suho's feet.
Shwaaaaaak!
Suho's shadow enveloped his entire body.
Like armor.
[You have learned Skill: 'Spiritualization'.]