Chapter 98

Chapter 98 If the Mind Kraken fully infiltrated someone’s consciousness, it could seize control of their body or even override their will entirely.

The dark tendrils of the Mindscape Invasion rapidly spread throughout Leonard’s body, aiming directly at his upper dantian. Even if he tried to resist, the darkness had pierced too deep to be expelled.

But regardless of that, Leonard had intentionally lowered his guard, leaving himself completely defenseless. Because of that, the Mind Kraken easily gained access into his mental realm.

“■■■■~? ■■■~?”

The Mind Kraken hummed cheerfully, seemingly elated at having dealt with a troublesome enemy so effortlessly. Although one more enemy remained, if the Kraken could take complete control of Leonard, finishing off the other would be easy.

Leonard’s pesky power was infuriating to the Kraken, but if that power fell into its grasp, it would prove incredibly useful.

Drawing a vision of a dark and damp future, the Mind Kraken ventured deeper into Leonard’s consciousness until it finally reached his upper dantian.

“...■■, ■■■?”

Suddenly, the Kraken found itself in an unknown place.

The monster, now towering at around three hundred meters, was fully exposed, surrounded by a scenery completely different from the Deep Sea City. Only then did the Mind Kraken realize that something was wrong.

But despite that, the monster didn’t flee from Leonard’s body, still confident it could overwhelm him. As a transcendent psychic entity, the Mind Kraken wouldn’t even consider the possibility of losing to a mere mortal in a mental realm.

“...What’s this? What is this monstrosity?”

A figure emerged, looking down at the Kraken with evident displeasure. The heart devil, borrowing Dan Mok-Jin’s form and power, overlooked the landscape from the peak of Shiwan Mountain.

The disparity in level was clear. In a mental world, the Mind Kraken’s cognitive abilities were far greater than in the external world. Thus, it quickly realized that the heart devil’s power and aura were superior.

“■■■?! ■■■...?!”

This Demigod, an entity too powerful and majestic to be lurking in a mere mortal’s Mindscape, exerted an overwhelming aura. Although it couldn’t project its power outside Leonard’s body, within his consciousness, it was a monstrous being of the Profound Realm.

Finally realizing what was going on, the heart devil laughed dryly.

“You crazy fucker... Are you just throwing this monstrosity at me?”

Being used as a tool of proxy warfare was frustrating enough, but now to deal with this monstrosity? Was this entity a heart devil or a slave devil?

The Mind Kraken felt insulted and humiliated, perceiving the laughter of the heart devil as a mockery of its cowering. Moreover, it realized that the heart devil was still incomplete, not a true Demigod.

Indeed, this entity would cease to exist if certain conditions were met.

“■■■■■■■■——!!!”

The colossal monster rose, causing the surrounding mountains and forests to shake violently. Not even the martial artists with ten gapjas[1] of internal energy could replicate the destructive power of the Mind Kraken.

Tentacles extended from the giant octopus-like creature, obscuring the sky like dark clouds, casting shadows on the ground, while ominous lights flickered from hundreds of magic circles emerging around the creature, targeting the enemy below.

The Mind Kraken unleashed a do-or-die attack, leaving no strength to spare, fully aware of its disadvantage. At that moment, the heart devil watching from below sneered with a dismissive expression.

“Well, this should be amusing.”

Heavenly Demon Cultivation Method

Asura's Royal Dance

Mighty God Statue Manifestation

A thirty-meter tall Asura figure materialized akin to a mirage.

Kugugugugugu...!

As soon as it emerged, the Asura statue unleashed an overwhelming force, similar to a shockwave, which dissipated the heavy malicious energy in the area.

The level-gap between the Mind Kraken and the heart devil was all too obvious. Even if the Kraken unleashed every ounce of strength it had, the gap would stay the same.

A skill on par with Leonard’s Five Elements Augmented Qi would probably have offered a fighting chance, but the Mind Kraken’s Mindscape Invasion was ultimately nothing more than a Creation Realm ability.

“I order you...”

The heart devil, having dominated the enemy with a single breath, issued a command from the sky.

“...Don’t break too easily. I don’t want my fun to end so soon.”

The giant octopus was ten times the size of the Asura statue, and yet it was clear who dominated this exchange. As the statue’s six arms moved, the tentacles burst apart, and the Mind Kraken flinched.

“...■■, ■■■■.”

What followed was a one-sided onslaught.

* * *

“Hoo...!”

Leonard watched intently as the two entities clashed in his mental realm.

Though it was merely a representation of Dan Mok-Jin, the heart devil’s combat prowess was truly at the Profound Realm. Every punch and kick from the Asura statue caused the Mind Kraken to rapidly shrink in size.

As the heart devil had stated, it was literally having fun with its opponent.

If the difference in level is too great, not even overwhelming power could bridge that gap.

That was the distinction between the Creation Realm and the Profound Realm.

A Creation Realm martial artist might overwhelm an Apex Realm martial artist in terms of augmented qi, but if the internal energy difference is several times greater, it could shift the tide of the battle.

That was why the martial artists of murim were obsessed with elixirs.

Increasing the amount and purity of internal energy could give one the chance to defeat someone of a higher realm.

While it would take years of training to reach a level of cultivation where one became immune to any blade attacks or mastered a unique skill with a strong affinity with the five elements, consuming a single powerful elixir could lead to a rapid growth in internal energy.

However, from the Profound Realm onward, the superiority of internal energy no longer mattered.

“...If I could wield the Five Elements Augmented Qi at the level of the Creation Realm just like within my Mindscape, I could also overpower the Mind Kraken.”

In fact, Leonard might even be able to do it more effectively than the heart devil. Monsters from outer worlds were incredibly weak against the power of the world order, so Leonard’s techniques, imbued with such power, would be even more effective than the Asura statue’s overwhelming presence.

As Leonard contemplated that idea, the battle between the two beings reached its conclusion.

One strike from the Emperor Destroyer Immortal Killer shattered the giant octopus into pieces.

“■■■■■■■—!?”

Simultaneously, the Mind Kraken let out a final, piercing scream. It wasn’t a cry of pain or fear, but a wail as it was about to face true death.

If it’s a psychic entity without a physical form... The destruction of its consciousness would mean that its very existence would be annihilated.

As if confirming Leonard’s suspicion, the Mind Kraken’s form began to dissipate like mist. The invasion on Leonard’s mind, meant to be its trump card, had backfired terribly, and now the creature was paying the price.

Revealing itself to a Demigod within the mental realm of a human it had considered mere prey—that was the Mind Kraken’s fatal mistake.

The Kraken ought to have retreated the moment it sensed danger. Though it would have sustained significant damage, it wouldn’t have faced utter annihilation. Its complacent arrogance, never having faced true defeat, had ultimately led to its downfall.

“...Leonard! What’s going on?!”

At that moment, beyond the darkness of the Mindscape Invasion, Russell appeared beside Leonard, his face filled with shock and confusion. Even as an Archmage, he couldn’t perceive the events occurring within another’s mental realm.

Looking at Russell’s bewildered face, Leonard merely pointed ahead instead of explaining what had just happened.

“Let’s finish that thing off first before chatting. Once the core is exposed, we must destroy it immediately.”

“...Is that really necessary? I’d like to examine it for a while if possible.”

With the Rift Guardian gone, Jack Russell saw an opportunity to study the core without interference. The Demon Octopuses couldn’t pose a threat to them, even if they came in swarms.

The core of the Rift was a complete mystery, an object of utmost importance even in the Magic Tower’s top research projects. So naturally, Russell’s curiosity rushed to the surface.

However, Leonard did not yield.

“It already took longer than expected. If we delay any further, Aquamarine will suffer casualties.”

“Oh, right.” Russell gave a sheepish smile as he remembered the entire picture.

At that moment, the Mind Kraken’s body, which was already dissipating, suddenly exploded, bits of it flying everywhere. Despite its incredible power, the creature’s end was rather anticlimactic.

The explosion of the Kraken’s ethereal form was powerful enough to create an actual physical shockwave. Anyone with lacking mental strength would have lost consciousness or suffered severe internal injuries.

However...

There it is.

Leonard, unaffected by the chaos, spotted the blasphemous crystal amidst the storm. The core sustaining the Abyss of the Demon Octopus had more power than the one they had encountered in the Sea Orc Den.

Recognizing it, a fierce roar erupted from within Leonard.

GRRRRRNNNN...!!

He channeled the tumultuous energy within him into the Miniature Sun, which was connected to him, allowing the roaring power to swirl and expand. The energy sphere, now swollen several times its original size, seemed to be on the verge of exploding. Leonard’s control, honed to the peak of the Creation Realm, was barely enough to contain it.

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Vermillion Bird Extra Form: Three-Legged Crow Explosion

The augmented qi, which had been shaped like a sun, morphed into a new form—a three-legged crow. Now resembling a mythical beast, never before seen in this world, the qi soared.

Accelerated by the energy equivalent to three gapjas of cultivation, the Three-Legged Crow broke the sound barrier and shot toward the core, moving faster than the eye could follow.

The beam-like attack pierced through the protective energy of the otherworldly force surrounding the core. The barrier shattered like glass, infinitely inferior to the crow’s overwhelming power.

Like in the Sea Orc Den, the destruction of the core fractured the space of the realm, the scenery of the Deep Sea City fading into the distance. The cries of the Demon Octopuses, banished to their home dimension, echoed like ghostly wails. The intersection connecting the two dimensions was collapsing—an expected conclusion.

At that moment...

“...”

Leonard felt a gaze from afar, a high-dimensional being observing him. He instinctively knew it was an Outer God. The presence, more terrifying than the Heavenly Demon Dan Mok-Jin, scrutinized him from above. Though the dimensional barrier prevented direct harm, the being’s gaze alone was enough to make Leonard break out in a cold sweat.

...You won’t be able to look down on me forever.

Despite the Five Elements True Dragon Ring losing strength, Leonard glared defiantly beyond the dimensional wall. If the Profound Realm was insufficient, he would reach the Life and Death Realm to tear out those arrogant eyes.

Like the legendary Ancestor Cardenas, if he could reach the Life and Death Realm—or better yet, the Deification Tier—he would be able to knock down a peg or two those who dared to look down on him like some insignificant creature.

Responding to his will, the power of the Five Elements True Dragon Ring thrived even more. The destruction of the second core accelerated Leonard’s growth once again. His level, previously at the Seventh Degree External Force Tier, broke through two minor tiers to reach the Ninth Degree External Force Tier.

Leonard was now one step away from the Tenth Degree, the limit of the External Force Tier. Breaking into the Transcendence Tier, which came after that, couldn’t be achieved simply through accumulating power, but Leonard had already found a breakthrough.

The time to defeat the heart devil is approaching.

The wall that even his past self, Yeon Mu-Hyuk, hadn’t been able to overcome loomed before him. It was only by triumphing over the heart devil that Leonard could reach the Transcendence Tier. The sixth sense of his upper dantian assured him of this.

There were nineteen battles left until the final 108th, after which the heart devil would devour him. If Leonard couldn’t defeat it in the remaining nineteen battles, the demon would take over his body.

But despite knowing that, Leonard’s eyes gleamed with a competitive spirit. For a martial artist, dying in battle was a destined fate, so there was no reason to fear death.

Leonard kept pondering on the inevitable duel, which was drawing near, until the Abyss of the Demon Octopus was completely sealed.

1. One gapja refers to 60 years of energy if a martial artist were to cultivate their internal energy for 60 years. ☜