Even watching Nidhogg charge directly at it, the Outer God Itarim remained composed. It was startled for a brief moment, but that was all. At best, were they not mere creatures? What did it matter if creatures joined forces or cooperated? Could they not simply be erased with absolute power?
[It was sufficient for a moment's amusement. Now, disappear.]
At that instant, a torrent of gaze-blades poured down from the colossal eye. The very attacks that Beru had blocked and severed with all his might now continued endlessly. To the Outer God, it was merely 'looking.' With a single gaze, it wielded the absolute power to sever space itself. That was its rank. The rank of an absolute being who creates and rules the universe. But…
Kwaoooooo—!
The counterattack began with Nidhogg charging head-on toward the distant divinity..
[I shall take care of defense.]
Nidhogg's third head, Ammut, revealed his power from within.
[The King of Monstrous Humanoids, Monarch of Trials uses Authority: 'Iron Body'.]
Clank, clank, clank—!
The scales covering the giant serpent's entire body were strengthened. The physical might of a soul trained to its absolute limit! Ammut of Iron Body, standing at that pinnacle, protected Nidhogg, charging straight through the storm of gaze-blades unleashed by the Outer God.
Pachangchang!
[…?!]
The Itarim's eye widened. In that gaze, flames of bewilderment and rage ignited. That fury immediately led to a second attack. The gaze-blades transformed into a fiery storm, raging from all directions.
'An inferno of extreme heat.'
The wrath of a god was hell itself.
Fwoooooosh!
Truly immense heat shot forth, as if to swallow Nidhogg in a single gulp.
But…
[Is it my turn?]
At that moment, Nidhogg's second head opened its mouth wide. Sirka unleashed her power from within.
[The King of Snow Folk, Monarch of Nightmares uses Authority: 'Blizzard of Disaster'.]
Fwaaaaaaah—!
From Nidhogg's wide-open maw, a breath of pure white disaster spewed forth. A blizzard of absolute zero instantly swept past the fiery storm born from the Outer God's rage.
Crrrrraaaackle—!
The cosmic flame and the blizzard of disaster collided, causing a massive explosion. But Nidhogg did not stop its charge. It pierced through the explosion, rushing in a straight line towards the Outer God's eye at the end.
[This is…!]
The Outer God hastily blocked the path ahead with divine power. The aftermath of the disastrous blizzard was about to reach it. But at that moment.
Kiiiiiiiiiik—!
This time, Nidhogg's sixth head, with Arsha inside, opened its mouth wide.
Kyawoooooooo—
Then, what poured out was not a simple breath. Endless Void Insects spewed by Arsha coalesced into a single swarm, like a plague of locusts sweeping across a meadow, and with a strange, roaring sound passed straight through the shield of divine power.
Kwaarrrrrrrrrrk!
That was the sound of hundreds of millions, billions of Void Insects 'gnawing away' at the shield created by the Outer God. To the Void Insects, dimensional walls were merely delicious prey. The result: holes were riddled through the Outer God's shield of divine power. And Nidhogg shattered what remained, continuing its charge.
[How dare you!]
The enraged Outer God finally resorted to its last measure. It deployed the apostles teeming in its own world.
[Go forth! My apostles!]
Graaaaaaaaaaaah!
At that moment, apostles of horrific forms took flight all at once. This in itself was a situation that would adversely affect Earth. If apostles of this quantity were to cross the dimensional wall, the dimension to which Earth belonged could shatter into pieces from the aftermath. Now that a hole large enough for the Outer God to peer through directly had been pierced, thanks to Yuri Orlov, there was no longer any reason for only a small number of apostles to cross over as before.
Grroooooooar!
Kyaooooooooo!
Dozens, hundreds of heinous apostles, taking flight in unison stood before Nidhogg to protect their god. But at that moment.
Kyaoooooooooo—!
As if waiting, Nidhogg's fourth head, Gray, let out a fierce howl. A wolf's howl. It was not a simple cry. It was the 'Battle Roar' of the true ruler of the Primordial Beast Forest, the King of Beasts.
[The King of Beasts, Monarch of the Hunt uses Authority: 'Battle Roar'.]
The roar of the predator who had hunted all the beasts of the Primordial Beast Forest engulfed all the apostles of the Outer God blocking the path, like a typhoon.
[The King of Beasts, Monarch of the Hunt uses Authority: 'Contempt for the Weak'.]
Kieeeeeek—!
Krrrrrrk…!
The apostles who heard that roar felt an instinctive fear and became rigid. An unbridgeable gap in rank existed between the apostles of the Outer God and the Monarchs. While the apostles of the Outer God were created in countless numbers, only eight Monarchs were created. Even including the Rulers, only sixteen. Because the power the Itarim could bestow upon their creations ultimately had a limit, it was a natural result that the power would be divided as the number of individuals increased. And the Monarch of the Hunt, Gray, was a Monarch who could reign with even greater fear over the weak, no matter how many prey swarmed him.
[Well done, Gray!]
Praising Gray for his good work, Ammut let out a mad laugh from within Nidhogg. And… Ammut didn't even need to use his authority.
Kyaao!
All of Nidhogg's heads, including Ammut and Gray, opened their maws fiercely. They bit, tore, and swallowed the apostles, their prey rigid with fear.
Crunch! Crack! Chomp!
Apostles of a lower rank were merely prey for Nidhogg. Thus, devouring them as they came, Nidhogg did not slow its charge towards the Outer God's eye. And the mouths of the people watching all this astonishing spectacle from across the globe would not close.
"Wh-what is that…"
All of humanity held its breath, watching the grand battle unfolding beyond the sky. Gazes mixed with astonishment, admiration, and hope were focused on the form of Nidhogg, charging towards a god. They could instinctively tell who was on their side, what the situation was. It was only natural for their souls to feel a rejection towards the invader from the outer universe.
"Please…"
"A little more. Just a little more…!"
Their desperate prayers rose from all over the Earth. But…
[My god. I have come.]
Just then, an existence appeared, blocking Nidhogg's path right before the Outer God's eye. He was a traitor to humanity.
'Yuri Orlov.'
"Wh-who is that person…?"
"Wait, his appearance is somewhat strange…"
People were horrified. The suddenly appearing Yuri Orlov was a gruesome corpse, beaten to a pulp beyond recognition of his original form. Yet, he still maintained a human shape. The dense magic and barriers surrounding his entire body were his armor, and at the same time, the pot and fishbowl that supported his form from collapsing.
[Hehe. Behold, you lowly humans.]
Orlov burst into grotesque laughter. A powerful and radiant divine power leaked out from within him. He was a puppet of a god, moving with immense divine power, trapped within a powerful barrier, but at this moment, he was enjoying it immensely. Behold! The people of the entire world were looking up at his magnificent form! He dared to pride himself as the strongest among all the apostles of the Outer God. An apostle with infinite power…!
[Creatures who dare to stand before a god. Try to break through my infinite barrier first.]
Crrrrraaaackle—!
At that moment. Hundreds, thousands of layers of barriers unfolded from Orlov's body, forming a giant net. And those sticky, tough barriers began to slow Nidhogg's speed. Indeed, his barrier was powerful enough to be called the strongest apostle.
Grroooooooar—!
Nidhogg struggled, but Orlov's barrier net only grew denser.
[Struggle all you want! The more you do, the stronger my net will become!]
Orlov laughed madly. Firmly holding the ends of that net with both hands, suppressing Nidhogg. It was then.
[I knew it. The last one would be you.]
The cool voice of the Dragon King Antares, who had been watching the situation until now, was heard. His sharp gaze pierced through Yuri Orlov, who had become the Apostle of the Infinite. The complexly intertwined magic barriers. The Outer God's divine power overflowing within. But beyond that, hidden deep inside, a familiar existence…
[The Architect.]
Antares had detected his presence, hidden from everyone else.
[I see. I wondered where you had hidden during the war, but to think you fled all the way to the outer universe to escape the Shadow Monarch, Kandiaru.]
Flash!
At those words, a sinister eye from within Orlov's corpse glared at the Dragon King.
[Fled, you say?]
And what flowed out was not Orlov's voice, but a completely different one. A bizarre voice where a cold, calculating female and male tones overlapped intricately.
[I merely wished to achieve my objective.]
Hwaak!
At that moment, the powerful barrier unique to the Demonic Spirits tightened around Nidhogg even more. At that sight, a triumphant, mad laugh erupted from Orlov.
[Do you see! I, Kandiaru! Have become the immortal existence I so craved!]
The Architect, Kandiaru. The Great Sorcerer of the Demonic Spirits. The being who had designed the level-up system to create a vessel for the Shadow Monarch. He had died at Sung Jinwoo's hands. But the moment Sung Jinwoo used the Cup of Reincarnation to rewind time, everything was undone. Thanks to that, even the Monarchs who had died, defeated in the war, could be revived. All who had perished during that war. To be precise, they returned to the point before their death. But unlike the Monarchs who resumed the war with the Shadow Legion, led by Sung Jinwoo, even after time was rewound…
[…You fled, Kandiaru.]
The one who had designed it all, Kandiaru, had fled without hesitation. He was quick with calculations. The moment the Shadow Monarch regained his full power, the outcome of the war was already decided. If so, there was only one choice left for him.
'To flee from the Shadow Monarch.'
No matter how he thought about it, the Shadow Monarch, no, the human named Sung Jinwoo, would never forgive him. But fleeing from the gaze of the Shadow Monarch, who would eventually rule all dimensions, was by no means an easy task. His shadow would eventually cover the entire world, and to flee as far as possible from that shadow…
[What choice did I have? To avoid being caught by the Shadow Monarch, the only way was to flee to a completely different universe.]
Kandiaru's lips curled into a grotesque smile. Wasn't it the right answer, even thinking back on it now? The choice Kandiaru made without hesitation the moment the Cup of Reincarnation rewound time. To escape from a universe already on the verge of extinction due to the death of its god, and to take refuge in another universe. And to pledge allegiance to the new god who created that universe. And…
[Yes, I see now. It was you who informed the other Outer Gods of this universe's situation.]
[Hehe. For a wanderer like myself to receive the grace of an Outer God, shouldn't I naturally offer a gift?]
Kandiaru was certainly clever. A creature who had lost its master, from a strange world, was a wanderer wherever it went, an outsider. And merely prey. Therefore, to receive the favor of the Outer God Itarim, who ruled another universe, he offered information that would make the Outer God drool, as tribute.
That was to inform them of the situation of the universe he had fled from. That a godless universe had been born, because its god had been murdered by his own creations. And his plan was certainly a success! Despite being a creature from another universe, he was able to proudly become an apostle of the Outer God! And as the Outer God he first informed began to make his move in earnest, other Outer Gods started to notice the fact one by one.
The result was right now. The Outer God War. And Kandiaru, having sold out his own universe, received the full favor of the Outer God and proudly returned to his homeland. Not as a fugitive, but as an invader.
But even so, it wasn't as if he didn't fear the Shadow Monarch. Since he himself was the one who had designed the vessel capable of containing his power, he knew better than anyone how fearsome the Shadow Monarch was. So, even if he had become an apostle of an Outer God, the moment he was discovered by him, everything would be over.
Therefore, he decided to act as secretly as possible. By hiding inside a human body. And not content with that, he surrounded that human's entire body with layers of barriers to thoroughly conceal his presence. Solely… to avoid being detected by the Shadow Monarch. And the moment the Shadow Monarch left for outer space to fend off the Outer Gods… the first thing he did was 'succession.'
[Yes, originally, Nidhogg should have had eight heads. But one was missing. Was that you?]
[Correct, Antares.]
Kandiaru laughed grotesquely. He was the Great Sorcerer of the Demonic Spirits. And at the same time, the strongest sorcerer among them, second only to the King of the Demonic Spirit Realm, Monarch of Transfiguration 'Yogumunt.' The qualifications to become the next Monarch were sufficient.
That was Kandiaru's long-cherished desire. A Monarch was the immortal existence he desired. Unless foolishly murdered by someone's hand like the damned Yogumunt, the strongest being who could live forever was a Monarch. In the first place, hadn't he designed the system for the Shadow Monarch for that very purpose?
So Kandiaru was ready to become the next Monarch at any time, if only someone would kill Yogumunt for him. Sacrifices, rituals, for the Great Sorcerer of the Demonic Spirits, such things were nothing. The reason why Nidhogg had seven heads instead of eight when Suho first encountered it was precisely that.
[The King of the Demonic Realm, Monarch of Transfiguration 'Kandiaru' is hostile to you.]
…Thus, returning to this universe, Kandiaru, having inherited the Primordial Darkness while avoiding Sung Jinwoo's eyes. The reason he hid within Orlov, subtly influencing his thoughts to execute the 'Unwithering Spring' project from behind the scenes. It was all for this very moment. Even if his identity was revealed to the Dragon King, it no longer mattered. The plan had already succeeded.
[I am already of a different rank from the other Monarchs. As an apostle serving an Outer God and a Monarch, I have become a far more transcendent being than you lot!]
Flash!
'Unwithering Spring.'
Befitting that name, at this very moment, behind Kandiaru, the divine power of the god he served was flowing in endlessly. That immense divine power further strengthened the authority of the Monarch of Transfiguration, Kandiaru. And his powerful barrier net finally, completely bound Nidhogg, which had reached right before the Outer God's eye. And before it, Kandiaru smiled sinisterly.
[Hehe. Do you know? You all probably thought you came this far through your own efforts. But it was I who designed this entire situation. And the next plan is, since this body is now broken, to transfer to a sturdier vessel.]
Grin—
Saying that, Kandiaru's gaze turned towards the head of Nidhogg at the very front. And he licked his lips, piercing through to the existence of Sung Suho within. Like a person before a delicious meal. His mouth watered.
[Dragon King. What do you think? If I enter his son's body while Sung Jinwoo is away, what kind of reaction do you think he'll show? If my soul merges with his son's, will he really be able to kill me?]
[…Quite a plausible plan. You've studied humans a lot.]
At Kandiaru's words, the Dragon King Antares nodded. Thanks to fighting Sung Jinwoo for the longest time, he knew his personality quite well. He had always fought to protect. Which also meant that all those he sought to protect were his weaknesses and hostages. But what if he infiltrated the soul of the human he cherished most? If Kandiaru became one with Sung Suho, just as Sung Jinwoo had become one with Ashborn? Sung Jinwoo would never be able to harm Kandiaru. This was indeed a clever and sinister plan. But…
[Digestion complete.]
Suddenly, from within Nidhogg, Esil Radiru's voice was heard.
[Lord Suho, I have succeeded in absorbing all the power of the devoured apostles.]
Simultaneously with those words, Kandiaru felt a sense of déjà vu. The very system he himself had designed…
Ting!
[Blessing: 'Blessing of Gluttony' amplifies experience points.]
…began to activate before his very eyes. For a purpose completely different from what he had designed long ago.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[...]
Until now, the King of Demons, Monarch of Gluttony Esil, had been focused solely on digesting all the apostles of the Outer God that Nidhogg had swallowed. And the moment that energy was digested within, all that power became Suho's experience points.
Fwaak!
"Kandiaru, nice to meet you."
Suho appeared atop the foremost head. Wielding two daggers, 'Kamish's Wrath,' in both hands. His appearance was reminiscent of Sung Jinwoo from long ago.
"I am my father's son, Sung Suho."
Between the crossed daggers, he flashed his cool eyes and bared his teeth at Kandiaru.
[Using Skill: 'Breath of Destruction'.]
Kwaaaaooooooo!
The moment Nidhogg's foremost head opened its mouth wide and spewed a breath of black flame, Suho's daggers also began to mercilessly shred Kandiaru's barrier.
[Using Skill: 'Slaughter'.]
Swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-swish!
And that trajectory gradually evolved, beginning to follow the teachings Beru had shown with his own body. Following the trajectory of Sung Jinwoo, which moved along the opponent's weak points.
[Using Skill: 'True Slaughter'.]
And in all those trajectories, the flames of destruction inherited from the Dragon King resided.
No existence in this universe could block his path.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
[Th-this is?!]
The eyes of Kandiaru, who had returned as the King of the Demonic Realm, Monarch of Transfiguration, widened.