Chapter 342
The more Thomas Andre repeated death, the stronger he became, little by little. Even without leveling up conventionally, all his combat experience accumulated. All of Legia's attack patterns and weaknesses were etched into Thomas Andre's muscles and brain. The same applied to his soul. As his experiences visiting the Sea of the Afterlife continued to accumulate, his vessel grew increasingly stronger and more resilient. It was a never ending cycle…
– Let's fight again, Legia.
[…]
It repeated again.
– Again.
Again and again.
– Legia.
Continuously…
[You have died.]
[You have died.]
[...]
[Would you like to restart?]
– Again.
– Again.
Eventually, Legia's patience ran out, he snapped.
[Kraaak! Do you still not understand! No matter how many times you repeat this! There is no chance for you to win!]
– So? You won't fight?
[What kind of creature is this…!]
The King of Giants was furious. Indomitable fighting spirit. He simply couldn't comprehend Thomas Andre's appearance, returning shamelessly as if nothing had happened after dying countless times, burning with fighting spirit. And at the subsequent, blatant provocation, sparks flew from Legia's eyes.
– Ah, perhaps your giant race can only flee and avoid fights when there's no chance of winning?
[...!]
This provocation was destined to land. Because there was absolutely no trace of bluff in Thomas Andre's appearance as he casually adjusted his sunglasses, lips curled upwards. Under the Pledge of Sincerity. Every word coming from this insignificant little human's mouth was entirely genuine. And he had declared his intentions towards him, filled with sincerity, time and time again.
– King of Giants, Legia.
That blatant gaze…
– You will surely die here by my hand.
It was utterly absurd. The look in that man's eyes held the genuine intent to kill him. He regarded him, the great King of Giants, as mere prey.
– I am Humanity's Strongest Hunter, and you are the largest and strongest prey I have ever seen.
[…How dare you!]
Oblivious to how reckless and impossible it was. As the attempts repeated, that 'sincerity' was clearly and firmly being imprinted upon Legia. By the Pledge of Sincerity binding them. All those words were filled to the brim with sincere 'killing intent'.
– So remember it clearly even in death. My name is Thomas Andre. Not 'Sung Jinwoo 2'. I am Humanity's Strongest Hunter, who will kill you.
Perhaps killing this man without releasing the chains that bound him would be an easier path to take. If he himself had only one life, he certainly would have done so. No, perhaps that was the original storyline. A special event where this enormous chunk of experience points was served up before him, hands and feet bound tightly, to allow the player easy and rapid growth. If not for that, there would be no reason to present such a strong boss monster, impossible to face at the current level, bound hand and foot right before his eyes. But…
What fun would it be to just follow the predetermined story? Especially when he had spare lives. Facing a difficult game, what was the problem with repeating the events until success was achieved? As long as the goal was worth reaching. Wasn't repeating it hundreds, thousands of times possible precisely because it was a game? Thomas Andre charged at the King of Giants once more. Legia roared.
[Why go to such lengths! Do you not fear death! Do you not tire of repeating the agony!]
– Tire? How could I possibly abandon this place, leaving behind something as large and beautiful as you?
[...What?]
– Anything that makes my heart race is beautiful. You are no exception.
'I'm trapped with a complete madman.' Legia thus defined the human named Thomas Andre. And truly, ironically. Quite cruelly… The horrific nightmares Thomas had repeatedly dreamt every night for years past. The excruciating nightmares of being thoroughly and mercilessly defeated by the violence of 'Sung Jinwoo', a being far more overwhelmingly powerful than the likes of Legia before him. At this moment, facing the formidable enemy, they were serving as his unshakable encouragement. Repeating a battle destined for defeat. Yet never stopping. Repeating the quests in front of him each day. Was that a game? No, to Thomas, that was life itself.
– I learned something new thanks to this game. Fighting the weak is mere violence, but fighting the strong is courage.
And Sung Jinwoo's life, experienced within this game…
– It's not because I'm a special human. He too, Sung Jinwoo, always lived like this. Born infinitely weak… yet always preparing for death, charging at the strong, an underdog.
Looking back, his own childhood was similarly difficult. White Trash. Growing up in a poor white immigrant family in America, bullied in a school full of black children. To survive in those lawless slums, he had to become strong himself. The weak lose everything. The strong take it all. In that respect, Thomas Andre was quite lucky. He was born with a stronger body than others. If someone hit him, he was the type of innate tough guy who would immediately charge back and bite off an ear. But 'Sung Jinwoo's' life was different from the start. Humanity's Weakest Weapon? An E-rank Hunter? Born into all that inferiority, a life lived as a social underdog. To fight, risking one's life to protect family within that context, truly required 'courage.' And…
– …Now his son is doing the same. Saying he'll help his father who went off on a business trip far away.
Sung Suho. The son of the Shadow Monarch, Sung Jinwoo. Thinking of the kid's face, who must be somewhere, striving to improve even at this moment, Thomas Andre gritted his teeth.
– That's why I absolutely cannot give up. Even that snot-nosed kid is running around trying to save the world alone like his father, so being an adult and just watching is frankly embarrassing. Relying on just one person for the entire future and just watching is a foolish act I refuse to repeat.
Because Thomas Andre had already experienced that desperate future once. Because he knew the overwhelming fear felt before the numerous Monarchs. He absolutely could not give up this time. He refused to give up. And the result…
– Sung Jinwoo, now I finally understand why you were so strong.
Thomas suddenly murmured.
– You were always fighting enemies like this. Only now have I finally approached your level.
[…!]
Before he knew it. The King of Giants lay before him, gasping for breath. Now it was time for the finish. Thomas Andre drew his serrated sword to slice through the creature's tough hide and sever its neck. He had finally won.
– You worked hard. Now die.
[...Hahahaha!]
– Hm?
But then. Legia, lying exhausted, suddenly burst into hearty laughter, his back shaking. However the feeling was completely different from before. As if he had become someone else entirely.
Flash!
Suddenly, a light flashed, enveloping the entire dungeon. And from Legia's collapsed body, a magical beast resembling a crocodile emerged.
[Magnificent. A worthy vessel has finally appeared.]
– You are?
A strange light appeared in Thomas Andre's eyes. Kindly, this game displayed names above enemies' heads.
[King of Monstrous Humanoids, Monarch of Trials Ammut]
Confirming it, Thomas adopted a guarded stance.
– Ammut? A new Monarch?
[Krrk. Do not be alarmed. I am something like an administrator of this game.]
– Administrator? I don't know what business an administrator has, but this is an important moment, so don't interfere. It's finally time for me to kill this guy and level up.
[Ah, that's why I came personally. This is actually something like a hidden quest, so I have to hand over the reward myself.]
– This was a hidden quest?
[So to speak. You were the first and will likely be the last, no one else will attempt such a mad act as you did.]
– Hooh?
At the words 'first and last,' a strange light flickered in Thomas Andre's eyes. He didn't know the reason, but wasn't it quite a rewarding statement for the first player of this game?
[Anyway, take your reward.]
Ammut grinned wickedly and opened his palm.
Fwoooosh—!
Then, a sphere of swirling darkness appeared above his palm.
– Is that the reward?
[Yes. It is called the 'Primordial Darkness.' A fresh one I recently acquired. But the race that originally inherited this power became extinct long ago, and there was no one else qualified, making it difficult to make use of it. But to think a vessel capable of proving their qualification for this power would appear among humans.]
Smiling contentedly, the sphere of darkness from Ammut's hand slowly flew towards Thomas Andre. He instinctively accepted it.
[That darkness is now yours. You are sufficiently qualified.]
At that moment, the 'Primordial Darkness' permeated Thomas Andre. The qualification was sufficient. And the vessel was not lacking. It was the moment a new King of Giants was born. From the start, this Tower of Trials, this level-up system incorporated into the tower, was a place designed to give trials until a human vessel could contain the power of a Monarch.
* * *
Back to the present.
Thomas Andre, who had succeeded in becoming the King of Giants after much hardship, was playing the game when he sensed the anomaly and emerged from the capsule.
Boom! Crack!
Kyaaak—!
Thomas Andre was tearing off and breaking the giant butterfly's wings and legs one by one with overwhelming physical force. With each shattered joint, each torn wing, golden blood scattered into the sky from the wounds.
[How can a human harbor the Primordial Darkness!]
[Our plan was perfect!]
[For a mere human to become the King of Giants!]
[Kraaaaaak!]
"Never done weightlifting? If you keep tearing and recovering, you get bigger. Seems the soul's vessel is similar."
Thomas's giant palm covered the sky, blocking the view. Before it, the Apostle of Conquest trembled in fear.
[Khahaha! The first hunt of a new Monarch. Quite a spectacle.]
Ammut's laughter was heard from somewhere.
[This will be your first step towards conquest. Continue, King of Giants.]
At that voice, Thomas Andre grinned faintly and delivered the finishing blow.
Crack!
At that moment, gold and black light explosively collided. The creature's body released tremendous energy. And as the largest one died, the smaller Apostles of Conquest scattered throughout New York City instantly turned to dust and dispersed.
[King of Giants, Monarch of Conquest]
His new title was confirmed at that moment.
* * *
And at that time. In the White House, the President and his advisors were watching the entire scene unfold.
"Thomas Andre has defeated the monster."
An advisor said with a trembling voice.
"No, he has become a new monster."
Silence fell in the White House meeting room. And a phrase simultaneously surfaced in all their minds.
'National-Level Hunter.'
That title, which until recently existed only within the game released by Ajin Soft, was officially formalized by unanimous consent at that moment. Because a monster like that, capable of overthrowing a nation if he wished, could hardly be classified merely as 'S-rank'.
* * *
"So, Ammut."
Thomas Andre asked in the direction where he felt Ammut's presence.
"What is Suho doing now? Has he become a Monarch like me?"
[Not yet. The issue of the vessel hasn't been resolved yet.]
"Vessel? If he's 'His' son, it shouldn't be lacking?"
[Quite the opposite. The vessel was sufficient from the start. More than sufficient, even overflowing. But sometimes, what you put inside the vessel is more important than its size.]
With those words, Ammut chuckled and disappeared. Thomas Andre, looking at the empty space, smiled in a similar manner.
"What you put inside… Indeed, that must be it."
It was a smile that only those who had inherited the Primordial Darkness could comprehend.