Chapter 312
A pure white snowfield with a blizzard swirling around.
Tap tap tap.
Sirka had been dreaming for some time.
It was a dream that I was walking aimlessly on a sea covered in ice.
Sirka was barefoot.
Suddenly I looked down at the cold ice beneath my feet.
Then something appeared.
Jeez... ... !
Every time Sirka’s thin soles stepped on the ice, cracks formed in the floor.
The ice was so thin it felt like an eggshell, and it seemed like even a slight misstep would cause the ice to shatter.
And underneath that... ... .
Thud... ... Thud... ... .
The dark abyss of the sea was surging.
It was a sea so deep that its end was not visible.
Whioo-
At that moment, Sirka’s frail body staggered in the bitter cold snowstorm that was blowing in from all directions.
But Sirka quickly regained her balance.
And without a care, I stepped forward.
Be careful, be careful.
But the confident steps never stop.
Following her, Sirka’s footprints were left behind like a long tail.
Looking at that, Sirka suddenly recalled the past.
When I was very young... ... .
No, from the time I was born until now.
I was used to it.
This bitter cold was both a playground and a grave for the ice elves.
A place where only the footprints of those who survived the bitter cold are left.
And the graves of countless compatriots who were buried in the cold, leaving no more footprints.
Those who survived there were soon proven to be strong... ... .
‘I am strong.’
Sirka moved forward straight and unwavering.
How long did it take to walk like that?
Suddenly, something appeared in front of him.
Sirka narrowed her eyes.
Then, beyond the seemingly endless hazy snowstorm, a huge shadow appeared far away.
‘pillar?’
At first I thought it was a very tall pillar.
But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t.
Only after walking for a while did Sirka finally realize what it was.
‘The World Tree... ... .’
World tree.
A sacred tree imbued with the power of the rulers.
A magnificent tree that cannot even be compared to Elvenwood.
And, containing the darkness of the beginning... ... .
A blow.
It was the moment when Sirka’s footsteps finally started heading towards her destination.
[Sirka... ... .]
Shudder.
Sirka turned her head at the sudden voice.
All I can see is a white snowstorm.
But the voice continued to be heard.
[You are not worthy of being a monarch.]
... ... Crap!
‘... ... !’
Suddenly, the ground beneath Sirka’s feet sank.
Then, Sirka’s bare feet sank into the black sea that was surging beneath.
That was the moment.
Sirka’s dream turned into a nightmare.
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
‘The ice is broken!’
The nightmare came so suddenly.
Phew!
The bitter cold swept through Sirka more sharply.
A blizzard that completely obscures vision.
And at the cracking sound heard from beneath her feet, Sirka’s pointed ears perked up in surprise.
Tzuu ...
The ice sheet began to shatter like a spider web around where Sirka had been standing.
And black water gushed out through the gap.
Crunch!
‘... ...?!’
What emerged from the dark water was a hideous monster.
A demonic creature that resembled a shark, but looked much more bizarre and terrifying than a shark, lunged at Sirka and opened its mouth wide, full of teeth.
Kyaaaaaaaaaa-!
Sirka twisted her body just in time to avoid the teeth.
But that was just the beginning.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Countless monsters began to emerge from the black sea.
The ice continued to break apart.
[... ... You really followed me all the way here. Nothing really goes as planned when you’re involved.]
The Nightmare Apostle, who had transformed into Sirka, burst into laughter with a slightly bewildered expression.
But that was it.
Because there was always a plan B in his plans.
Besides, this time the plan wasn’t a complete failure.
[You know what? My plan has already succeeded. From the moment I got involved in this succession.]
Hehe.
The Apostle of Nightmare, who quickly regained his composure, bowed gracefully toward Suho.
[It’s not for nothing that I chose nightmare as the direction of evolution.]
We gathered information from all over the world.
All possible cases were calculated.
Even if there are some variables, the result will not change anyway.
Even the fact that Seongsuho was the son of the Shadow Lord and became the priest of the Lords was all taken into account in his calculations.
[This place is already a nightmare under my control. No matter how much power you have, you cannot exert any power here.]
Exactly!
The moment he touched his fingers.
with a plop!
... ... ?!
Space-time was distorted, and they all fell into the black sea.
At that moment, the shadow disappeared from Suho.
The dark ocean is like a world where light does not exist.
There was a void where even darkness could not exist.
[Can you see it?]
At the center of that void, the Apostle of Nightmare spread his arms wide.
[In the nightmare I rule, I can do anything. In the same sense, no one can use powers that I do not permit. The same goes for your shadow.]
Kyaaaaoh!
At that moment, hideous monsters swam through the abyssal sea and rushed towards Suho.
[They are called Void Sharks. They are maggots that wander through the void and clean up dimensional debris.]
Void shark.
The numerous shark monsters that had attacked Sirka earlier rushed at Suho at a fierce speed this time to devour him.
Open your mouth wide, full of sharp teeth.
but.
‘Hmm... Is this all there is?’
Even in front of that, Suho stood tall without any panic.
He tilted his head, still holding Sirka in his arms.
‘Soo, Soo-ho! It’s dangerous!’
Instead, Sirka was gripped by fear and writhing in Suho’s arms.
However, Suho consoled such a Sirka and opened his mouth while looking straight into the eyes of the Nightmare Apostle who had become extremely arrogant.
‘I think you’re mistaken about one thing.’
Slurp-
He stepped into the abyss of the sea.
Then, surprisingly, a shadow rose from under Suho’s feet.
The Apostle of Nightmare’s eyes flinched at the sight.
[Oh, how... ...!]
‘What you rule is a ‘nightmare’.’
Suddenly, a cool smile appeared on Suho’s lips.
‘But the ‘darkness’ is not yours.’
WHHHHHH-!
[Use ‘Skill: Monarch’s Realm’.]
His shadow exploded out around Suho.
‘Darkness is my father’s.’
... ... !
Then, the pitch-black shadow began to swallow up all the attacks made by the Apostle of Nightmare.
‘And since this is your first time here, you may not know, but this is where the World Tree is, the Sea of the Afterlife.’
[Lord, kill me!]
For the first time, the Nightmare Apostle, greatly embarrassed, used all his strength to strengthen the nightmare.
Monsters that resemble sharks.
Tentacles that resemble tree roots.
All of them rushed to tear Suho apart.
But even while looking at that sight.
‘therefore....’
Suho stretched out his hand leisurely and gave an order.
‘Get up.’
That was the moment.
Towering.
It was as if time had stopped.
The void sharks that had come close to Suho’s nose with their mouths open suddenly stopped moving at the tip of Suho’s fingers.
and.
Shwaaaaak-!
Their forms twisted and bulged, dispersing like black smoke and then gathering again.
like that....
New shadow soldiers are born.
[Kyaaaaaaa-!]
... ... ?!
The Apostle of Nightmare could not help but be astonished.
[Wh, what... ...?!]
‘Whether you control the nightmare or not, this has long been the world my father has ruled.’
[... ... !]
As Suho finished speaking, the horrible nightmares that had been bothering Sirka all this time began to open their mouths and rush towards the Apostle of Nightmare.