CH 423

After the tension subsided, excruciating pain overwhelmed me. Bone was exposed throughout most of my body. The left radius (the outer bone of the forearm) was especially prominent. It had broken and pierced through my skin. I had to consciously bear my weight on my legs. My internal organs felt as if they were burning and twisting violently, and a sudden surge of fatigue weighed heavily on my shoulders.

[Doom Entegasto’s Power ‘?’ has been deactivated.]

From then on, I didn’t need to use healing skills as long as my eyeballs were still intact. My protruding bones found their way back to their original positions, and muscles quickly attached to them, followed by skin covering them.

My regeneration occurred quickly. With such healing power, minor injuries or burns would be recovered immediately. The exhaustion that had been urging me to sit down vanished in an instant. My body felt light again.

I checked Entegasto. It was still looking up from a distance where it had been pushed back to, and its small wounds had disappeared as well. However, the biggest injury around its neck was still there. The bone was still exposed. There had been flesh covering the bone before I exerted my power on it.

Even if it was irreversible, it was supposed to be healed now that the battle was over. Nonetheless, it appeared that some limitation was preventing the recovery of a critical injury.

Its armor was also in bad shape as the clash had caused more cracks and aggravated the damage. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one who had paid the participation fee. In fact, its losses were greater. Therefore, I couldn’t help but have a bitter smile crossing my lips.

Eventually, the sword it was holding vanished in a blink of an eye. The pounding sound that came from the sword’s vibration was now echoing from its heart. It then turned its head toward me and looked at me with a resentful gaze for quite some time.

However, no fear was conveyed. Although it was ranked higher than me now, it would be different next time. By then, it would have to confront me with even worse damage.

Then, it leapt up the stairs and disappeared behind the curtain. Nevertheless, it felt like its glance was lingering like an afterimage. When that feeling left, I sensed Lunea and others being forcibly brought in.

The space began to expand, and they were all pulled into the staircase. Lunea was on the lowest, Caso on the one above her, and my position since the battle ended was the fifth staircase from the top.

The force that pulled in Mount was also formed like this. The bindings that blocked the movements of Mount were interwoven like chains. However, a movement to a certain extent was possible that it lowered its head as soon as it saw me.

Half of its frightened face was exposed as the fur that had been covering it was quite scorched. Its cold gaze from before had completely vanished. It was as docile as Yeon-Hee’s Kcihpos. Dealing with this guy, who had given up its position, would be the next task to complete.

Roaaaar! Thump-!

I jumped up to the fourth staircase, which had now become my spot. It was just below the curtain. Only one more step remained to the next staircase obscured by the curtain, the unknown territory where Entegasto was.

From there, I could see all the lower Dooms at once. The aftermath of the battle had remained for the bastard Lunea as well. It was swaying unsteadily, unable to find its balance. It didn’t know where to look, so it decided to lower its head. It was so tiny that if I were to slap it with my palm, not only its face but its entire body would burst at once.

[...Uh, so… Umm… So… What I want to say is…mmm… Congratulations…]

However, it was only for a moment that its message appeared intermittently.

[Congratulations! I, Lunea, am truly touched!]

[Doom Mount must remember this day and will always have a sense of awe. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I would have done the same as Doom Mount. Let’s not forget. It is a blessing for all our lords that Doom Man is so strong. Right? Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha…]

It flew annoyingly like a tiny fly.

[ ( ŏ ӟ ŏ)੭~♡ With respect and love, to Doom Man.]

***

I shouldn’t have been concerned with such nonsense. There were messages that suddenly popped up without any reaction from any areas where Night Eye or Explorer were. It was no longer difficult for me to distinguish between the remaining system in me and Lunea’s voice that was sent by Doom Kaos.

[Your Almighty Master, Doom Kaos’s command has been modified.]

[Find One More Dragorin ‘Red,’ and Remove It. (Command)] 

[Defeat the Great Red (Command)

The Great Red has also suffered severe injuries during the battle against Doom Entegasto. Since then, the Great Red has been in a long slumber, and its whereabouts are unknown. Nevertheless, waking the Great Red will not be a difficult task. Eliminate the remaining blood relations of the Great Red to make it wake up by itself. Then, defeat it.

Keep in mind that the seal left by the Great Red to the lower lords is weakening. In other words, it has not recovered from the injury yet! Nonetheless, it would be hard for you to confront it directly even if it is in such a state. Therefore, secure additional relics from the old battlefield. Retrieving them will be of great help to you.

If you succeed: You will be able to unlock your Unique Power. You will receive an opportunity to challenge the hierarchy towards the superior lord, Doom Entegasto. Also, the attack of the Old One’s Corps on your mainland will be completely blocked by the powerful force that your Master will create.

(* If you succeed in challenging the higher lord, the dimensions held by Doom Entegasto will become yours as well.)

If you fail: Your master will be greatly disappointed in you.

(* Your master will pay more attention to Doom Entegasto’s voice. You will face unpredictable punishments.)

[An additional command has arrived from your master, Doom Kaos.]

[Speed Up the Conquest (Command)

Your Master is satisfied with the war situation. Your human corps is powerful, and your master sees a lot of potential from your group, just as you have shown in the fight against Doom Entegasto.

Speed up the conquest and occupy the entire Greenwood Continent within one hundred days, or expand the battlefield to another continent and achieve the same results as you have now. Keep in mind that the species of other continents are inherently stronger than the natives of Greenwood.

If you succeed: Your master will praise you and your human corps, and then it will build a Demon Castle in the area of your choice.

(* The Demon Castle will be protected by the powerful force that your master will create.)

If you fail: The opportunity will go to the corps of the other Dooms.]

***

[Ongoing commands

1. Defeat the Great Red.

2. Speed Up the Conquest.]

I wondered if Doom Kaos had originally planned to entrust the Great Red to Entegasto. Or if Doom Arukuda or Doom Kaos itself would have intended to take action.

Anyway, dealing with the Great Red, the Saint Jayden, was now my responsibility. The reward for doing so was more than what I could ask for.

I wasn’t talking about the additional Unique Power that was being thrown at me like bait. The opportunity to challenge Entegasto again and the fact that Doom Kaos would completely block attacks on my mainland meant a lot. They would eliminate two of my biggest concerns. Of course, I was sure that they wouldn’t do anything to my mainland even if I failed.

As you could tell, the carrot offered by Doom Kaos was bigger than the whip. The same was true for the additional command, and Doom Kaos seemed to have been moved by the previous fight as if I had met its expectations. It was clear even after checking it again.

[Secure additional relics from the old battlefield. Retrieving them will be of great help to you.]

It was explicitly telling me to extract Mana from the relics from the War of New Devil. This implied that we no longer had to argue over the higher Dooms’ belongings. Doom Arukuda and Entegasto might have complained and were growing more rebellious, but they couldn’t do much.

Entegasto had to stop the attack just before seeing the end with me. Arukuda hadn’t come down to the bottom staircase even after the execution was suspended.

This was a space that operated like Jeonil Club, an absolute ruler’s realm. Despite Doom Kaos’s increasing expectations and its actions in giving me more authority, Doom Entegasto, and Arukuda would still have been unable to challenge the fucking ruler.

Just wait, Entegasto. The day we face off again is not far off.

The surroundings were quiet, and the air around me was heavy. The oppressive atmosphere beyond the curtain was pressing down on me, and I could feel the subdued mood of Mount and Caso from below. Thus, the damn Lunea was the only noisy one.

[I am so jealous~ Doom Man. Did my previous advice help you? It was information I found out at the risk of danger. From now on, I, Lunea, will also follow your example and help change the world. Please look forward to it. Hehehe!]

“Lunea…”

Lunea seemed to have heard my mumbling.

[It’s not Lunea. It’s Lu-ne-ah. Lu-ne-ah! Well, that doesn’t matter. Call me whatever you like. Yes, yes. I’m not Lu-ne-ah. I’m Lunea.]

Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawread dot com ].

Lunea was someone that the absolute being of this space brought in. It must have received the status of a lord because Doom Kaos had considered it to be useful.

Doom Insectum had died horribly, and Entegasto was severely injured. Even if it was Doom Kaos, it wouldn’t have been able to ignore the consumption of power. Hence, it would never tolerate me killing that bastard Lunea and would inflict penalties on me by destroying my mainland.

I had no choice but to admit that there was no way to handle Lunea and its annoying messages for now. Nonetheless, now that Doom Kaos was empowering me, there was still unfinished business to take care of.

“I have a question, my lord!”

I shouted towards the curtain.

“There are issues that Lunea and I have not resolved yet. Lunea told me that you have the ‘Book of Death Volume 1!”

[W…what the hell are you talking about right now…?]

“But the Book of Death Volume 1 was an item that I was supposed to receive as a price of the truce with the Barba Corps in the Final Stage. Because of that truce, many of the Barba Corps were able to survive from me.”

[W…Why… Why are you bringing up something that is already over…? You shouldn't mention something like this! I, Lu… Lunea, really wanted to stay close to you, Doom Man! Do you really have to do this now? ٩(๑`н´๑)۶ ]