Chapter 131. When You Kill a Lord

Kim Do-Joon felt weightless as he floated in the air. He caught a glimpse of the sky, where the clouds had parted. Then, his descent began. As he fell, Vulcanus swooped in with blinding speed and caught him.

"It looks like you succeeded," Vulcanus remarked.

Kim Do-Joon stayed silent, his gaze locked on the ground far below, where the enormous water giant was collapsing. The creature’s massive body, made entirely of water, was now dissolving into shimmering light, vanishing into thin air.

The downpour that had accompanied the battle ceased, and the raging currents slowly subsided. Patches of earth began to appear through the muddy mess.

Thud.

Kim Do-Joon jumped off Vulcanus’ back and landed on the ground. A small figure appeared in the distance—it was a Water Spirit. It was a mere fraction of its giant predecessor—almost pitiful in comparison. It stood in shock at the shattered Core of the giant.

"It's finally over," Vulcanus muttered.

Vulcanus had already reverted into his human form, his fiery red hair fluttering as he approached the Water Spirit. Without hesitation, he raised his hand, conjuring a sword of flames. Then, he decapitated the creature.

Squelch.

The head rolled across the soggy ground, stopping a few feet away. Even in death, the Water Spirit’s face was frozen in a state of disbelief.

"What happens when you kill a Spirit King?" Kim Do-Joon asked, his curiosity piqued.

In the heat of the battle, he hadn’t had a chance to ask about the aftermath.

"Don’t worry," Vulcanus said casually. "This one won’t come back to life. Somewhere in this land, another young lord will eventually be born to take its place."

Then, Kim Do-Joon’s eyes shifted to the shattered remains of Core, strewn across the ground. He could still sense the lingering power within it—the very essence of a Spirit King.

That same energy would seep into the rivers or oceans, eventually birthing a new Water Spirit King somewhere in the world.

"The new Spirit King won’t inherit this one’s personality, will it?" Kim Do-Joon asked cautiously.

"Not unless something goes terribly wrong," Vulcanus shrugged. "It takes hundreds of years for a Spirit King to grow this strong. You’re human, Do-Joon. You won’t be around by the time the next one poses a threat."

The cleanup wasn’t his responsibility. Stopping the rampaging Nereid was already more than enough to repay any debt he’d have owed to this world.

"Vul... canus..."

Suddenly, a voice crackled from the severed head.

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes widened, and he pointed at the head.

"It’s not dead yet!"

"It’s just a matter of time," Vulcanus replied, sounding unconcerned. "Its Core, containing centuries' worth of energy, has been destroyed. There’s no coming back from that."

Even Vulcanus had barely survived from separating his Core. Nereid, however, hadn’t been so lucky.

"How... dare... you... How dare you! How!"

The spirit’s face twisted in rage as it spat out those words. It couldn’t accept its own defeat. It had ruled this land for centuries, feared by all. Even Vulcanus hadn’t dared to challenge it directly in the past.

And yet, its Core—its very essence—had been shattered by an outsider. Moreover, this outsider was neither a Spirit King nor an elf, but a human from another world!

The headless body trembled, crawling toward the broken Core like a wounded animal, pitiful and desperate.

"Pathetic," Kim Do-Joon muttered, disgust evident in his voice.

The spirit flinched at the word, convulsing with rage. In its mind, humans were nothing more than food for the World Tree, barely worth acknowledging. To be humiliated by one was an unbearable insult.

"

Heh... heh heh...

"

Then, a low, eerie laugh began to spill from the spirit’s lips.

Bzzzz—

Suddenly, the ground began to shake around the creature. Then, a dark, ominous energy gathered around it, swirling like a black hole.

Kim Do-Joon narrowed his eyes. "What’s it doing now?"

"Damn it!" Vulcanus cursed.

The spirit, Nereid, stood up, its arms outstretched. The shattered pieces of its Core floated into the air, pulsating with a terrifying force that seemed to make the very sky tremble.

"It’s trying to release the last bit of its energy!" Vulcanus shouted.

"The last bit of its energy?" Kim Do-Joon echoed, confused.

"It’s the primordial power meant to give birth to the next king!" Vulcanus explained. "It’s sacrificing its future!"

It was almost preposterous. To use that power meant forsaking the next generation entirely. If that energy were unleashed, it would take thousands of years for another Water Spirit to naturally emerge.

"Primordial power..." Kim Do-Joon murmured.

His eyes widened in shock as a memory resurfaced. He recalled when Jecheon Seong used his true essence energy to heal Jecheon Kang’s Absolute Meridians.

Was the Water Spirit King about to unleash a similar burst of power? But this time, it was the primordial energy of a Spirit King, which existed on a completely different level.

So, he’s basically going to blow himself up?

Kim Do-Joon gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. Even in death, Nereid was causing trouble until the very end. He glanced over at Vulcanus, silently asking if there was anything they could do. However, Vulcanus shook his head firmly.

With his Heart of Flame separated from his body, he couldn’t possibly contain another Spirit King’s primordial power.

"You need to grab your comrades and get out of here,

now

," Vulcanus urged.

He had already transformed back into his dragon form. If that power exploded, the entire forest could be wiped off the map, swallowed by the raging waters.

Kim Do-Joon was about to climb onto Vulcanus’ back when a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

"So, I didn’t come all this way for nothing."

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes went wide as he recognized the voice. He turned in disbelief.

"Elder...?" he whispered.

Standing tall with his hands behind his back was Jecheon Seong, the man who should have been back at home.

Jecheon Seong walked forward with calm, measured steps. The moment he arrived, the once sharp and tense atmosphere, as if on the edge of a blade, melted away, replaced by warmth. Undeniable power filled the place.

Jecheon Seong stopped in front of Nereid, who was cackling with a twisted grin.

"

Heh... heh heh...

It’s too late. You’re too late. I never lose. I can’t lose...

heh... heh...

"

The Core, brimming with primordial energy, shook violently. Just as it seemed ready to unleash its destructive force, Jecheon Seong casually tapped the Water Spirit King with the tip of his sword.

Tap.

Instantly, the violent, raging power was subdued, as if it had transformed into a harmless lamb.

"What...?"

Nereid stammered, bewildered. He couldn’t understand what had just happened, and never would.

With one smooth motion, Jecheon Seong swung his sword, cleaving Nereid’s body in half. The Core, the surrounding land, and even the forest behind the creature, were all split in the same stroke.

Nereid’s fragmented essence, now gentle and docile, drifted away, scattering into the unseen distance. Jecheon Seong sheathed his sword.

This time, the Water Spirit King was truly gone.

***

The Water Spirit King’s earliest memory was of swimming in a small puddle, no bigger than the palm of a hand. A tiny Water Spirit, barely the size of a finger, had claimed that puddle as his home. Back then, he had no idea what kind of power lay dormant within him, or what kind of being he could grow into.

It’s too cramped.

His dissatisfaction had nothing to do with his latent power—it was simply his nature, a part of who he was. The walls of the small puddle felt confining, as if they were holding him prisoner.

It was not until a great flood swept through the region that he finally escaped. His home expanded from a tiny puddle into a small lake.

At first, he was content. However, soon enough, the lake, too, began to feel suffocating.

It’s too cramped.

Eventually, someone opened a waterway, allowing him to reach a river—but it still wasn’t enough. Neither the lake, the stream, nor even the great sea surrounding the continent could satisfy him.

No matter how vast or wide the waters grew, there were always walls—there were always limits.

I want to get out. I want to be free.

If he could escape this prison, if he could break free of this world, then he would become the most free being in the entire universe. He was willing to do anything for that freedom.

***

Kim Do-Joon led everyone trapped within the Stem out into the open, using the passage that Jecheon Seong had created.

What they saw first was an eerily vacant lot, as the Academy had been transported in its entirety. However, the area was filled with people, including the staff from the Association, journalists, and curious onlookers. What caught his attention the most were the parents, their faces filled with concern.

“We’re out!”

“Min-Seo! Kim Min-seo!”

Students ran toward their parents, embracing them with relief. Some were tearful, others silently hugged their parents, and a few proudly recounted their harrowing experiences, only to receive gentle admonishments.

While the reactions varied, everyone wore bright, relieved smiles, having shed the weight of their worries.

“Thank you, Hunter Kim Do-Joon,” one parent said gratefully.

“I heard it was all thanks to you, Hunter,” another added.

“Thank you!”

Holding Kim So-Eun in one arm, Kim Do-Joon scratched his cheek awkwardly at the praise. Then, he met the warm gaze of Son Chang-Il, who’d been quietly observing.

After a brief moment, Son Chang-Il spoke up, “Alright, everyone, let’s give Hunter Kim some space. He looks exhausted from all his hard work. He needs to rest, doesn’t he?”

The crowd reluctantly dispersed, leaving only a few people around Kim Do-Joon.

“Well then, I guess I’ll take my leave and get some rest,” Kim Do-Joon said, preparing to step away.

“Ah, would it be alright if I visit you tomorrow? I’m curious about what happened inside, and...” Son Chang-Il said, glancing at Jecheon Seong.

Understandable, the mysterious old man had displayed such immense power. Kim Do-Joon nodded.

“Of course. I can come by too, if you’d like.”

“No, I’ll come to you. I can visit your shop, right?”

With that, Son Chang-Il also went off to manage the situation. It was a significant incident, with the building having disappeared entirely, so the aftermath would surely be a considerable task.

Left alone with his family, Kim Do-Joon adjusted Kim So-Eun, who started to doze off in his arms, and turned to Jecheon Seong.

“By the way, how did you manage to come here?”

“How did I...?”

Jecheon Seong started to explain. While watching TV, he saw the academy engulfed by Roots. Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon had gone there to pick up his daughter. When Jecheon Seong tried to call him, he got no answer, which led to his worry and subsequent visit. Sure enough, both father and daughter were missing.

“So you came in by cutting through the Roots?” Kim Do-Joon asked, incredulous.

“Yep,” Jecheon Seong replied nonchalantly.

Siwelin chimed in, showing a card she had prepared.

—

You have no idea how intense it was! He sat there with his eyes closed for a long time, and then suddenly...

Whoosh!

”

Anyone who had witnessed the scene would know that she wasn’t exaggerating. Even Kim Do-Joon could imagine the gravity of the situation.

The act of cutting through the World Tree’s Roots was no small matter, especially since traces of it remained prominently on the academy grounds.

The space was ripped open in a crescent moon shape, sending shivers down Kim Do-Joon’s spine.

I still have a long way to go.

Kim Do-Joon had defeated the elves, thwarted Elsar, and ultimately vanquished the Water Spirit King. Naturally, he felt a surge of confidence, thinking he was quite strong.

However, that thought vanished as he took in the remnants of destruction—as it would for any sane person.

Phew...

It seemed the day when he could claim a complete victory against Jecheon Seong was still far off.

***

The Academy building inside the Stem bustled with activity as the Hunters of the Association investigated the surroundings. After all, a passageway connected to the Stem had appeared not only in Hwaseong but also in Seoul.

In contrast, there was a quiet place where no one had come. Only the traces of a fierce battle remained in the forest that became Nereid’s final resting place. At some point, two figures appeared there.