Chapter 339
He wouldn't have realized it on his own. But the moment Suho saw it right before his eyes, he instinctively understood. 'Spiritualization', he realized that he could do that too. He understood the method the moment he saw someone else drawing the power of the soul out beyond their vessel. If the vessel was weak, it would break. If it's smaller still, it won't endure and will shatter. But, what about his own vessel…?
It was sufficient. More than enough. After all, he was the one who conquered the Sea of the Afterlife. Who found the World Tree. Who fought Nidhogg time and again. The one who gave birth to several Monarchs. That was Sung Suho himself. Yet, while the others had become Monarchs, it was strange that he alone had still not inherited the Primordial Darkness. But now he knew the reason. As Antares had said, what mattered was the 'time.' Or, more accurately, the right 'catalyst'. To prove one's qualifications, a trial befitting them is necessary. Only by overcoming that trial does the power gain a 'foundation'. Not some illusion like baseless confidence, but proof of well-founded qualification was needed.
To achieve that, the one thing Suho lacked was precisely the 'target'. To inherit the power of destruction. Suho needed a clear target to thoroughly and mercilessly destroy. In the past, for the Dragon King Antares, that target was the army of the Rulers. And the Dragon King, fiercely burning that distinct fuel, had ignited the flames that led the whole world to destruction. But now, right before Suho's eyes…
"You dare aspire to become a Monarch?"
Fwoosh!
An adversary had appeared, coveting what was rightfully his. Spreading a fiery hell, deceptively resembling destruction itself, in all directions.
[Kraaaaaaaah!]
The catastrophe unleashed by the Apostle of Conquest assaulted Suho.
But…
"Pathetic."
Suho merely laughed. The Apostle of Conquest, trying to burn him to death with such a 'fake' power, seemed utterly pathetic. How could such embers possibly hurt him?
"Flames of the outer universe lack foundation, they are not even the power of this world."
Shwaaak!
As he clenched his fist, all those flames were swept into his hand. At that sight, the Apostle of Conquest's pupils trembled.
[What is this…!]
His expression was clearly baffled by the unprecedented spectacle. Suho's transformation was different from any spiritualization the Apostle of Conquest had encountered before. That wasn't mere spiritualization. It was something… more fundamental.
[Kraaaah!]
At that ominous foreboding, the Apostle of Conquest struck Suho with even fiercer flames. But unlike him, Suho possessed a 'foundation'.
Thump! Thump!
His second heart, violently pulsing within his chest. The 'Dragon King's Heart' inherited from Antares. The intense heat, like lava bursting from an active volcano deep inside. The flames of destruction, always threatening to incinerate Suho's body at any moment of carelessness… He decided not to suppress this power he had always kept in check any longer.
'I permit it. Go ahead, run wild as you please.'
Rather, he freely unleashed the power he had restrained until now. Then, as if waiting, the flames devoured Suho. Lava bursts through a dam. Those flames were the power of destruction, incomparable to the embers ignited by a mere apostle of an Outer God. The infernal flames erupted all at once, beginning to run rampant with the force to blast Suho's entire body apart. But…
[Using Skill: 'Art of the Iron Body']
He endured. Suho's vessel did not break. To shatter from just this would render all the hardships he had endured meaningless. Training. No… Forging he did to his spirit. The process of tempering, struck and crushed countless times. Through that repeated agony, becoming redder, hotter, yet ever harder, like the essence of metal. The daily training with Ammut had strengthened Suho's vessel to the extreme. To a point where even the power of destruction could not break it.
Ruuuumble!
Then, the power of destruction lost its way and faltered. It wanted to run wild, but Suho's vessel was too sturdy. The aftermath shook his insides. Then, Suho's soul became a shadow and enveloped the flames. That was Spiritualization. Imitating the technique performed by the Apostle of Conquest right before his eyes. Thus, armor made of shadow covered his entire body. And from the crevices of the black shadow armor, scorching white steam leaked out. The pure white energy emitted by the intensely condensed flames of destruction enveloped Suho's entire being, radiating outwards. Like an active volcano on the verge of eruption. Seeing that, Antares murmured.
[Not Black Flame, but 'White Flame'…]
A certain fondness was woven into his voice.
[So that is the fire you have kindled.]
Suddenly, a memory from long ago surfaced.
– Isn't it amusing?
Long ago. The Dragon King, not doubting his victory in the slightest, had looked down at the face of the defeated enemy and sneered.
– A battle between flames born from darkness, and darkness born from light.
Yes. Back then, at that moment. The flames born from darkness were Antares. The darkness born from light was the Shadow, created as a fragment of brilliance but reborn as a Monarch after death. And the one who inherited all that power was merely a human.
'Sung Jinwoo.'
But this time, the situation was different…
[This time, the flames were born from all the darkness and light embodied in one body. Truly, he is his father's son.]
An irregular personifying all irony. That was Sung Jinwoo's son, Sung Suho. And after much time had passed, the Dragon King Antares was now watching the son of Sung Jinwoo inherit his power and grow in real-time. And recalling that day's conversation, he murmured.
[Now, the end is in sight.]
Shwaaak—
Even at this moment, Suho's form was transforming ever more fiercely. The Kamish's Wrath swirling in his hands gained an even sharper edge. Over the two blades, a white shadow blazed, 'burning' as if they had become two longswords.
[Using Skill: 'Slaughter'.]
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish…
Countless attacks struck the Apostle of Conquest's body.
'One more time!'
Swish! Swish! Swish!
[Ughh! You bastard…!]
Even amidst the barrage of countless attacks, the Apostle of Conquest persistently absorbed Suho's flames. And receiving that power entirely, he struck back. Suho, too, chose attack over defense. Both neglected defending entirely, unleashing only attacks upon each other. But there was a difference between the two…
"…"
[Uaaaagh!]
Unlike the Apostle of Conquest, screaming in agony, Suho's mouth remained firmly shut. The pain must surely be similar, yet not even a small groan escaped. Wasn't he in pain? Impossible. Even the Tenacity skill that usually protected Suho only reacted to physical damage. Right now, he was simply enduring it. So what if it hurt…?
Swish! Swish! Swish!!
He just had to hit back that much harder!
Slaaash—!
Eventually, the Apostle of Conquest's wings were severed.
[Uaaaagh!]
The Apostle of Conquest agonized over the loss of his wings. Golden energy poured like blood from the places where they were cut off. But his body quickly began to regenerate, blazing with flames again. And the scattered droplets transformed into small, numerous fire elementals, scattering in all directions. Voices of anger erupted from them simultaneously.
[With just this!]
[You think you can defeat me!]
[Think again!]
The Apostle of Conquest roared furiously, raising both hands. The cave ceiling, completely melted, sent viscous lava masses raining down on Suho's head. It felt like facing a waterfall of immense heat.
[I shall show you!]
[My power!]
[I shall prove my qualification!]
[The Primordial Darkness is mine!]
The image of Christopher Reed had completely vanished from the Apostle of Conquest. In its place remained only a pure fire elemental, blazing golden. Two pairs of wings, immense in size, regenerated. And within those flames, countless faces writhed with distorted expressions.
"Even with a hive mind…"
Suho merely laughed. In times like these, a hunter simply needed to choose one of two options. Take down the strong one first. Or start with the weaker ones. Suho chose the first method.
Stab!
Instantly, his extended sword pierced the abdomen of the largest entity. It plunged so deep that only the hilt remained visible.
[Kyaak—!]
The Apostle of Conquest vomited golden blood. But even that scattered immediately, attacking Suho with potent divine energy. Then he released the sword hilt, leaped upwards, spread his empty hand wide, and struck the air downwards.
'Ruler's Authority!'
Kwaaaaaang—!
Then, a giant transparent palm appeared in the air, striking down the Apostle of Conquest.
Boom!
[Keoheok…?!]
Crushing him flat. Repeatedly.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
[Kuk! Th-this power…?!]
Under the successive attacks, the Apostle of Conquest simply couldn't regain his senses. He couldn't understand. Why the power of the Rulers, encountered in the outer universe…? Beings different from the Shadow Monarch, rooted in darkness. How could this human possibly wield the power of the Rulers! The Ruler's Authority wasn't mere telekinesis. It was literally an authority. In other words, a divine power born not from the outer universe, but from this universe. Moreover, it was a divine power that enabled the creations to kill the one who created them, by their own will! The god killing power!
Swiiiiish—
In the meantime, Suho had already closed the distance right before his nose. And raising the remaining Kamish's Wrath high, he forcefully stabbed it into the Apostle of Conquest's eye. Deep enough to pierce the eyeball and penetrate the brain beyond.
Boom!
And finally, the Apostle of Conquest's spiritualization cracked.
Crack!
Starting with that crack.
Crrraaaaaack...!
His body shattered like broken pottery.
At that moment, all the heat contained within, burst out towards Suho at once, like fireworks. But he did not avoid any of that power, he accepted it all.
Whoooooosh—
He sucked it all in.
[W-wait!]
[No!]
[Stop!]
Then, the small elementals scattered around urgently raised their voices towards Suho.
[The vessel we painstakingly created…!]
[How hard we worked to make that…!]
[It was the most optimal vessel to become our main body!]
Voices filled with palpable regret. Not begging for life, but loaded with pure frustration, disappointment as well as anger and thirst for vengeance were heard. But what could they do? All the power they had gathered until now flowed entirely to Suho. Devoured completely by the Dragon King's Heart nestled within him. And then…
Ting! Ting! Ting!
[Conditions met for Class Change Quest: 'Trial of the Dragon King - 4'.]
[Concluding Class Change Quest.]
Simultaneously, the Dragon King Antares, appearing in Ragnar's form, burst into laughter.
[Uwahahahaha!]
His immense satisfaction with Suho's performance was clearly felt. But Suho focused more on the system message appearing before his eyes than on Antares.
[Your class will be determined shortly.]
[Advancement to a higher class is possible based on the acquired advancement points.]
"Acquired advancement points?"
At the game-like expression, he recalled something Beru had told him once. The Great Sorcerer of the Demonic Realm, Kandiaru created this level-up system he inherited from his father, to grow a human vessel capable of containing the power of a Monarch. And that method borrowed the rules of games familiar to humans.
Ting.
[Analyzing player's actions to assign a suitable class.]