Chapter 183

Training Fight (1)

“The citizens… Does that mean saving the magic species of the forest left here?”

The letters of light continued to embroider the air.

– Magic species of the future. Upon accepting the contract, my soul, along with my power, will be absorbed by your Mana Heart. But you can be at ease. I will only continue to exist in there, and I won’t intervene with your mind at all. I, too, shall adhere to the agreements stated in this contract.

– Keep in mind that my power can only be transmitted to the soul of the contractor, in other words, to the body that contains your soul. This is to ensure that the contract will be fulfilled.

– This is the end of my letter. I don’t know how long it has been since my death or how many citizens will have remained when this document is read, but I think it’s a doable enough condition for you who has a monarch’s qualities.

I was lost in thought.

Would I be able to get the ability to increase the potential Mana in exchange for taking in the devils?

In fact, it didn’t matter much to me since I could just continue absorbing Cores, but for my colleagues and other Terrans, it was a very attractive option, considering it would strengthen their battle powers.

And it was tempting, considering it even as a successor, not as Seo Jin-Wook.

That was because it was an effective supplement to the situation where my current life’s destiny was certain to be Earth’s guardian.

It was then.

– Hey.

Genograche turned to look at me and continued.

– I can’t make this contract.

“Hmm?”

I thought for a moment and nodded.

“Oh, I see.”

The full text of the contract said the following.

The power would be transferred to the Mana Core of the body containing the spirit of the contractor.

But at that moment, Genograche’s soul was sealed in a sword.

He controlled the golden armor equipped with a Mana Core, but it was technically more of an empty shell without a soul.

And the power couldn’t be instilled in the sword that had no Core.

– I cannot fulfill that promise even if I make the contract with the Monarch of Evolution, either.

A separate contract with me subjugated him.

Therefore, realistically, it should be considered difficult to feed thousands of devils.

Genograche looked at me and made an unexpected proposal.

– So why don’t you perform the contract?

What?

Why did he recommend me to have all the good things all of a sudden?

“Why? Don’t tell me….”

Genograche explained, pointing to the shabby clothes worn by the Knight.

– It’s because it disgusts me to see descendants of the magic species hiding in a cave, like a ground rat, and trembling, not knowing when they’ll be hunted down.

He added a sentence as if he was embarrassed.

– Perhaps it would have been different if I wasn’t aware at all…

It was hard to believe that those words came from the one who killed so many devils in his lifetime.

“I didn’t know you were so close-knit, especially considering the past.”

Knowing what I was pointing out, he grumbled.

– You mean the devils I killed? There was a story to that that you’re unaware of.

Instead of giving me the full length of the story, he said something else.

– The power of the Monarch of Evolution is something that you desire as well. You have the ability to perform the contract, too. And these men are ready to follow orders and offer loyalty like a fanatic, worshipping you as a savior if they are taken in.

It certainly seemed to be that way.

I would lose the Mana Cores that I would spend to relocate all the devils on that planet to Earth through the [Door to Hope] and the cost of helping them settle on Earth.

On the other hand, I would gain thousands of Awakened individuals with an average S to SS Class level based on Earth’s standards and a special ability to evolve potential Mana.

No matter how hard I thought about it, it wouldn’t put me in red at all.

Although, there was one thing that bothered me.

“I don’t think anyone can get the power, seeing that contract is constantly mentioning Monarch-level devils.”

– You mean the qualification of the soul?

He said as if it was ridiculous.

– Are you seriously questioning that? Do you think your soul falls short of a monarchical demon? Or are you worried that the power attached to the soul will be particularly picky when it comes to the body and the genes?

Wel… the following was what a god once said about my soul:

‘It’s surprisingly tough and hard.’

“Well, the only way to find out is if we try it out.”

I wanted to know if I had the qualifications as well.

I reached out and grabbed the crystal.

Then, the laser-like text from the Knight’s skin faded and disappeared all at once.

We all waited in silence for what would happen next.

As we did so…

– You are…

That time, instead of a text message made of light coming up, the words rang directly in my mind.

The source was the crystal held in my hand.

‘It’s the sealed soul here.’

The Monarch of Evolution, who lost his body a long time ago and had been waiting for future generations to reach his hidden power, spoke to me directly.

– You are… Your flesh is not of the same kind as ours.

I answered back with what I had prepared because it was an expected reaction.

“However, I am determined to perform the terms of this contract faithfully. What do you say?”

The sealed soul seemed to ponder for a moment.

Then.

– … Thee. Your soul does not qualify as a Monarch.

What? That couldn’t be… the moment I almost asked back in that manner, he continued.

– You have a much greater and glorious soul than any Monarch I have ever met. Your soul is far superior beyond the bound framework of Monarchs.

Hmm?

– I’ve never experienced such a toughly polished soul. What a strange thing this is. But I can put my faith in it if it’s an entity like this.

Then the voice gave me a proposal.

– If one is qualified to guide my people, I must accept the frame that contains the spirit even if it does not belong to my kin. So, will you accept this contract?

I answered.

“Let the contract be signed.”

Paht!

Then a brilliant flash burst out, and the crystal I was holding disappeared as if it evaporated instantaneously.

But I was aware that it was being converted into pure energy and flowing into my body.

A unique red Maana pattern combined with the soul flowed into my heart then into the Core.

And after a beat, I saw a text string that was different from any other.

As the force was instilled in me, a phenomenon more than mere contact occurred, causing [The Successor’s Eyes] to react.

The explanation of the new skill came up.

[Ordeal for Transcendence (Rank: EX)]

– An ordeal will be given to the Awakened being designated by the user, and only they shall be able to recognize and be affected by it. The Awakened that has overcome it will have their potential Mana grow further and beyond their initial limits.

※ Be aware that only subjects that have completely activated and unlocked all of their potential Mana, leaving no potential Mana in reserve, can be affected by the skill.

※ If the subject fails to overcome the ordeal, the subject will be penalized for some time, not being able to cast this skill on the same subject. The penalty application period is subjective.

I mumbled inwardly.

‘So that’s how it works.’

If the Mana could continue to be increased without a limit, the Monarch of Evolution couldn’t have been defeated.

Not only did it have a condition to use it, but even if one overcame an ordeal, the content of which I wasn’t aware of, it would take time to give the next ordeal.

Until the subject converted all the newly acquired potential Mana to active Mana, that was.

‘And first of all, there would be no point in using it on me.’

As I continued to increase my potential Mana with Mana drain, it would never fall to zero and hit bottom.

That ability was solely for my companions.

A means of cultivating one’s power as a group.

“Then…”

After understanding what had happened through our conversation, the Knight laid his body flat on the floor.

Even though I already knew what his reply would be, I asked him.

“What do you say? Will you and your other kindred follow me?”

The answer was very quick.

At least a few words from the Monarch of Evolution that died after hiding them in that place must have remained intact.

When he found out that I was already ruling over another monarch and had him as a subordinate, even though I was not a devil, he gave me a title.

“I will you serve me with all my flesh, Great Monarch.”

“…”

Great Monarch. What was up with that sense of naming?

I clicked my tongue and prepared to return to Earth.

*

The immigration of the forest’s magic species to Earth proceeded faster than expected.

First of all, a temporary shelter for thousands of people already existed in Korea.

That was because the residences built for refugees who lost their homes due to dungeon breaks had become almost empty.

The Celestial Dragon Guild had expanded its influence in earnest, and I had begun to pay attention to prevent Gates from collapsing through the [Aurora of Stability], after all.

Thanks to that, instances of dungeon collapse in Korea and the whole world had almost disappeared. That was Earth’s current situation.

And after entering the Main Quest, as we interacted with the other world that I had laid the bridge to, we were supplied consistently with the technology and the materials of the alien world. The urban reconstruction speed had hastened incomparably to the past due to it.

“Guild Master, the Korean government has granted refugee status to all members of the magic species.”

“Thank you, Secretary Kim.”

All of them had already pledged their allegiance to me, the savior of the legend, and I had the magic species join the Celestial Dragon Guild.

Suddenly, our number increased by multitudes.

As a result, the edges of Secretary Kim’s lips had gone from ear to ear and didn’t seem to go down. Every time he passed by, I would often hear a melodic humming.

“These days, every day is like a dream. When I think about the past, I never thought a time like this would come…”

He sighed deeply as if it made him emotional.

It was understandable. After the Main Quest began, the Celestial Dragon had solidified its position as the world’s No. 1 guild, but it had another rapid growth once again.

As a result, the comparison between the Celestial Dragon and other guilds on the earth became meaningless, and even the media were already losing interest in ranking them.

“Guild Master, you became even more famous after the tutorial quest.”

We prevented the Gates from collapsing all around the world, negotiated directly with the high-ranking members of the Union, and virtually had sole control over the Tactical Fortresses, the deterrent to prevent the invasion from other worlds.

The Celestial Dragon’s influence wasn’t restricted within Korea, just as how my name had reached other worlds as well.

As a result, Earth’s greatest Awakened individuals also opted to gather at the Celestial Dragon, and the guild also swept away the Main Quest accessible to the Terrans.

Therefore, the EX-Class and System-Class items received as my guild members naturally monopolized quest rewards. The useless lower-class items were released to the market and passed on to other Hunters, which also improved Earth’s overall combat ability.

It was sort of a trickle-down effect.

Secretary Kim assured me.

“In this situation, if you, Guild Master, promises something… the Korean government will have no choice but to provide the best support by all aspect. I think the rest of the procedure will be completed quickly.”

The magic species settled in Korea at a surprising speed.

And like how other Union members didn’t attack Genograche just because he was a member of the magic species, nobody picked a fight or dared subjugate the others either.

In the eyes of the aliens, the forest devils were also my subordinates, after all.

Meanwhile, while the government took care of the complicated administrative procedures and the guild leaders, including Secretary Kim, took care of the household establishment, I focused on other things.

“Please conduct the experiment on me.”

The task to try out the newly acquired skill, [Ordeal for Transcendence (Rank: EX)].

Upon hearing the explanation, Hibiki was the first to raise her hand.

She, who was very bitter about falling helplessly to a curse recently, wanted to become stronger as soon as she could.

However, she had virtually stopped growing, having unlocked all the potential Mana amounting to a total of 50,000.

Knowing her feelings well, I nodded.

“I don’t know what kind of ordeal it is. Do you still want to proceed?”

Hibiki nodded with a glance of firm determination.

“Wasn’t it said that the Monarch of Evolution of the past had a lot of subordinates gathered around him since they wanted to be stronger? It wouldn’t have been so if it was dangerous enough to be too big of a risk.”

Her reasoning was sensical.

Eventually, she became the first test subject.

When I activated the skill, the red Mana lingered around her body.

Then only a few seconds had passed.

Thud!

“Hibiki!”

“Are you all right?”

She sat on the floor with her knees weakened.

The air surrounding us changed rapidly.

Nate was baffled and wiped off the sweat covering Hibiki’s face.

“What kind of sweat does-!”

At that moment…

“Blrgh!”

How could a person turn so worn out in such a short time?

With a blank look as if she had walked through the battlefield between life and death, she vomited blood on the floor.

“Cough!”

A rough cough followed.

Nate quickly pulled out a potion and fed it to her.

“What happened? What about the ordeal? Has it already started? Is this the ordeal?”

Unlike Nate, who was so anxious, I didn’t even have to ask Hibiki.

It was visible to me.

Her potential Mana nearly doubled compared to the before I used the skill.

The active Mana was about 50,000, remaining the same, but the potential Mana, which was zero, increased to 50,000 again.

The expansion of the vessel, which could nearly double in the future, had been achieved.

“You’ve overcome it?”

“… Yes!”

Barely composing herself, she confessed what she had witnessed.

Nate’s eyes widened.

“By your senses… You’re saying you’ve been fighting virtual enemies for years and years alone?”

It was fortunate that her mind didn’t collapse.