Chapter 186

As the young man crumbled to the ground, the fluorescent flames that had defiantly blazed also vanished, as if they had been a mere illusion.

It was only then that Lennok allowed his weary expression to relax.

Staring for too long at the intensely glowing fluorescent colors had drained his fragile body.

Approaching the fallen young man, Lennok carefully removed the dagger lodged in his chest.

The disruption of internal balance had caused a substantial backlash, resulting in blood flowing from every wound on the young man’s body.

There was no time to hear his final words. His lingering life was solely due to his considerable wizardry skills.

It was ironic.

Just as he had gained power by sacrificing everything for the magic he had yearned for all his life, he fell without even a glance back at the approaching dagger.

Yet, the one responsible for this paradox at the end of the young man’s life was none other than Lennok himself.

This fact should never be forgotten.

It underscored that even Lennok’s relentless pursuit of time could lead to a futile and meaningless end.

With each obstacle he eliminated, Lennok steadied his resolve not to lose sight of his initial goals.

Standing up from the young man’s lifeless body, Lennok examined the dagger stained with blood.

A blade that had pierced an executioner, its origin was strangely unique, albeit unintentionally so.

Considering the rumors that curse spells grew in strength when imbued with time and stories, it wouldn’t be surprising if this dagger acquired additional powers in a different direction.

‘Considering the transfer capabilities of relics, it wouldn’t be bad to prepare a few more similar weapons...’

While pursuing diversity in magical attacks was possible, the key was to introduce unpredictable variables.

From Lennok’s perspective, incorporating a few irregular elements like this could enable a sudden reversal in a single battle.

Though reflecting on the concluded battle was important, there were pressing matters to attend to first.

With that in mind, Lennok promptly withdrew his mana and activated it beneath his feet.

[Sink Hole]

Gwoooong!!

Suddenly, a vast chasm opened beneath Lennok, swallowing him into its depths.

This was no ordinary pit; it was an entrance to a different dimension.

As Lennok had suspected, there was more to the Plant than met the eye.

The fact that they were cultivating saplings above ground while maintaining such an extensive underground facility might seem surprising to outsiders, but understanding the context shed light on the situation.

“I’ve arrived.”

Lennok found himself in a dimly lit underground chamber.

Dozens of large glass cylinders rotated slowly, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the surroundings. Each cylinder was spacious enough to accommodate a human body, and inside, men and women floated, naked and with their eyes closed.

An unknown liquid filled the cylinders, once meant to support their life functions.

Or perhaps, it should be said that it used to aid them.

Not a single person within these cylinders remained truly alive.

Even Davi, who had accompanied Lennok, hesitated as it struggled to comprehend the macabre scene.

[These are... humans.]

“Yes,” Lennok answered.

Utilizing the impact as a springboard, he swiftly exited the underground chamber.

The force behind the attack was so formidable that it could easily breach four shields. Without regaining his composure, it wouldn’t have been surprising for his shield to be penetrated instantly.

As he rubbed his temples with an expression of weariness, Lennok observed the cavern he had just vacated collapsing. A substantial amount of sediment began to pour into the cavity.

Due to the aftermath of rampant fire magic, the soil within the plant had been reduced to ash and lost its cohesion, filling the vacant underground space.

The ash continued to pour into the pit ceaselessly, forming a substantial mound of ash.

Atop this mound, a naked man slowly emerged and gazed down at Lennok.

His visage, that of a young man, was in stark contrast to the age of someone purported to be in his late forties. From a distance, one could discern his robust physique and imposing frame. The magical energy enveloping his body provided clear evidence of his arrival in the autonomous region.

When sending only one’s consciousness, there were almost no limitations on distance and speed. This explained how he had arrived here by penetrating the barrier of the isolated autonomous region.

Dominic Cabaro had projected only his consciousness into the homunculus and had come here directly. The presence of the homunculus guarding his pharmacy likely played a part in achieving this outcome. It was conceivable that the reason all the human batteries, which should have been used to produce drugs, were deceased was to expedite the rejuvenation of his body.

Dominic rose to his feet, fixing a sharp gaze on Lennok. Slowly descending the mound of ash, he appropriated clothing from a young man buried nearby, and broke into fits of laughter.

“Hahahaha!!”

Kuuuuuuuuu...!!

Merely expressing his emotions caused an immense surge of mana to ripple through the area, shaking it to its core.

What potential could a body possess, cultivated by absorbing the mana and life force of dozens of spellcasters? Furthermore, it was a relic from the vanished WORLD 1.0. Its true power was beyond easy estimation.

“For a long time, I’ve admired the overwhelming power that Pandemonium possesses,” Dominic muttered, his fist clenched.

“It wasn’t difficult to accept that the most fundamental logic of this world is not money but power... However, I lacked the means to acquire it.”

“...”

“But now, it feels like all those deficiencies I had are being filled.”

He tightened his fist, then turned his gaze toward Lennok.

“Once I find the hidden location of your lighthouse and kill your leaders with my own hands, I should gain some recognition in the Pandemonium... From there, I will take control of that mysterious legion.”

“You seem to be under some delusion,” Lennok retorted with a smirk.

“Was Pandemonium ever an organization that could be described by grand words like a legion?”

The Pandemonium he was familiar with was a disorganized structure, where even the hierarchy was ill-defined, and the relationships among members were as tenuous as grains of sand.

What truly defined Pandemonium as a congregation was not the organization’s size or history, but the overwhelming power and individuality of each member. There was no room for superficial notions like organizational strength or unity.

Instead of denying the statement, Dominic offered a faint smile.

“You know the Pandemonium well. You’re not wrong.”

“...”

“It’s true that there are not a few monsters who act on their own... But even so, the meaning that the Pandemonium holds is clearly present.”

As he spoke, his eyes emanated a radiant light, brimming with mana.

“Even if the values and beliefs of these grains of sand were different, as far as I see, they were definitely approaching the truth. There’s no need to worry about it further.”

Dominic took a stride forward and rolled up his sleeves.

“I will uncover the secrets of this world and survive to the end.”

Whoosh—!!!

Right after rolling up his sleeves, an enormous surge of steam billowed from his arm.

Before fully comprehending the determination in his words, the battle with the Drug Lord had commenced.