Chapter 241: Chapter 240

A world of pure white.

He had only blinked once, and now Suho was standing here. He was used to this situation now.

The moment 'Baran's Horn' appeared as a quest reward.

The moment he held that horn in his hand.

He had expected this to happen.

'Priest for the Dead Monarchs'

Although there were exceptions, most of the dead Monarchs Suho had met so far had bestowed upon him the role of a priest. What they wanted from Suho was one thing. A ritual to pass on their power to a suitable successor. They had chosen Suho to officiate that important event.

But why?

Why Suho?

Why did they have no choice but to entrust the important role of a priest to the son of the Shadow Monarch who killed them?

"Because there's no other option." The Dragon King Antares recently answered Suho's question. Unlike other Monarchs, Antares had many opportunities to chat with Suho since he was always by his side.

"Now there's only you. I don't know how it happened, but..." The Dragon King told Suho the story of the Monarchs with a bitter expression.

"Originally, when a Monarch dies, the succession ceremony for the next Monarch takes place under the supervision of the priest of that race. But sometimes, the power is passed on automatically even without any assistance. That's the 'natural order'."

The one who decided that 'natural order' was, of course, the now-deceased 'Absolute Being.' In the beginning... The so-called 'Primordial Darkness' was split to create eight kings, who were the Monarchs.

"So when we die, the 'Primordial Darkness' we hold naturally seeks out the next successor and passes on."

But now, the Absolute Being was dead in this universe. It seemed like the laws he created were also broken.

"...It's so broken that even a nobody like you can reawaken the souls of us who have returned to nothingness."

[Kieeeeek! How dare you say such blasphemy...!] Although Beru was outraged by the words, the Dragon King wasn't trying to belittle Suho.

Rather, he was curious. How did Suho come to possess such an ability? The Dragon King continued his explanation, enduring Beru's anger.

"Of course, your father is one of the eight fragments of brilliance, the eight Primordial Lights created by the Absolute Being, and also the ninth Monarch. A shadow that embodies both light and darkness at the same time. That's your father. But even the Shadow Monarch couldn't control the spiritual bodies of the Monarchs, who were his equals."

If that were possible, the Monarchs would have already been reduced to shadow soldiers. Knowing this fact, the Dragon King was extremely wary of the power Suho possessed.

"It would be good to be careful of that 'Unknown' skill. No matter how I look at it, that power doesn't seem to be something your father passed on to you." The Dragon King repeatedly warned that it was even more dangerous because it was a passive skill that activated automatically.

Suho heeded his advice, but it was no use, no matter how much he prepared. It was a skill he didn't even know the name of. Knowing this fact as well, the Dragon King emphasized one last thing to Suho.

"Remember one thing. Not all Monarchs will be friendly to you. Just like I was. Especially the Demon King

Baran..."

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, Baran, is watching you.]

'...So you're Baran.'

He looked up at the edge of the pure white land. There stood a demon clad in luxurious armor that only royalty would wear. A demon with a bluish tinge. The light of blatant hatred flickered in his wide-open eyes. Suho was used to this situation as well. Come to think of it, it was the same when he met the Queen of Insects, Querehsha, as well as the Dragon King. It wasn't something he couldn't understand.

'Revenge against his father.'

It was only natural, wasn't it? If they didn't have the desire to pass on their power to a successor like the Dragon King, it was perfectly fine to express their revenge towards the son of the one who killed them. But Suho already knew the story of Baran from the Dragon King. Strictly speaking, Baran wasn't killed by his father, Sung Jinwoo. The one who killed him was the previous Shadow Monarch, Ashborn. First of all, the 'Baran' that Sung Jinwoo killed in the Demon Castle when he was young wasn't the real one but a replica, and the real Demon King Baran was a Monarch who betrayed Ashborn a very long time ago and was executed by him. This meant that Baran here had never even met 'Sung Jinwoo'.

'But the fact that he's showing this much hatred means...' Suho gritted his teeth.

Rumble!

Crackle!

Lightning struck the barren sky. This was Baran's expression of anger and hatred.

Crackle! Rumble! Crash!

The thunderbolts striking down from the sky were rapidly expanding their range around Baran. As if to fill this entire world of pure white. Suho had seen this kind of sight only once before. It was performed by none other than his mother when Cha Haein held the 'Demon King's Longsword' and killed Itarim's apostle. But the energy of the lightning emanating from Baran's body was far more terrifying than back then. And at the center of that natural disaster Baran was glaring at Suho with bloodshot eyes. Especially towards Suho's chest. To gauge the identity of the power hidden within.

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, discovers the 'Dragon King's Heart' within you.]

'Damn it.' So it had come to this. Suho let out a small sigh and inwardly cursed the Dragon King.

[Lowly human, I'll ask you one thing.] Baran finally spoke.

But this wasn't a question he asked because he wanted an answer.

[Are you a descendant of Ashborn, or a descendant of Antares?] He was already certain.

[Why do I sense both of their powers within you?]

'Didn't you say you would only ask one question? And if you look closely, you'll also feel the blessings of other Monarchs...'

[You talk too much.]

'...' Actually, Suho knew that this conversation was a waste of time.

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, realizes that you are the successor of the Dragon King Antares.]

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, recalls the atrocities of Antares.]

...The system messages were kindly informing Suho of Baran's inner thoughts one by one.

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, remembers that it was the King of Dragons, the Monarch of Destruction, Antares, who instigated him to betray Ashborn.]

There were two targets of revenge for the Demon King Baran. The Shadow Monarch Ashborn and the Dragon King Antares, and Suho happened to inherit the powers of both of them. Therefore, instead of answering, Suho raised his magic power to the maximum. He couldn't summon shadow soldiers in this world, so he had to fight Baran alone.

Fwoosh!

The Dragon King's heart boiled. Suho's entire body was engulfed in black flames resembling the Dragon King. That sight was the perfect answer for Bara, his eyes widened.

[As I thought! You bastard—!]

Flash—!

'...?!'

He turned into a bolt of lightning and shot towards Suho.

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, uses Skill: 'White Flames'.]

'What the...?!' There was no time to be surprised.

Crash—!

A speed he couldn't react to, even though he was prepared. Suho's body was thrown in the opposite direction by the flash of light that stretched in a straight line. This was only the beginning.

[Kraaa—!]

Baran, who charged at Suho, opened his mouth wide, and shark-like vicious teeth tried to swallow Suho's head whole.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Crack!

He barely managed to avoid the attack, but he had to give up his shoulder instead. It hadn't even been a second. In that short time, Suho was hit and bitten on the shoulder.

Crackle—!

'Kugh...!' His vision flickered. Tremendous lightning pierced Suho's body through his shoulder. He felt like he was going to lose his mind from the pain of literally being struck by a thunderbolt.

[Die! Die! Die! Die!]

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Baran bit Suho mercilessly like a true demon. As if to chew and swallow his flesh and bones.

'Kyaaa...!'

Suho gritted his teeth, enduring all the pain, and attempted to counterattack.

[Using Skill: 'Tenacity'.]

[Using Skill: 'Giant's Armor'.]

[Using Skill: 'Storm of Black Flames']

Rumble—!

He confronted Baran using all his skills. But The Demon King didn't even try to avoid any of the attacks and took them all head-on. And he grinned.

[Khehehe! Good, good! You are deciduous!]

'...!' Suho's eyes widened at that insane sight. It wasn't that he didn't feel pain! Baran felt joy precisely because he felt pain.

[A demon's life is a struggle!]

That's right. He was the one who reached the pinnacle. And demons were a race that found the value of life in cruel struggles with blood and flesh splattering. Especially Baran, he was a true predator who devoured more demons than anyone else.

Crackle!

Crash! Bang!

Suho and Baran's fierce clash dyed the world of pure white with madness.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak—!

The white flames flashing from Baran's mouth intensified. Suho also expanded his senses to the maximum and launched a fierce attack.

'This isn't easy.' He realized how much his father's illusion had helped him during his battle with the Dragon King. He knew it wouldn't be an easy fight from the beginning, but the reality was even harsher. After countless exchanges, Baran chewed and swallowed Suho's flesh. And as if realizing something, he looked at him with a wide smile.

[Khahaha! Now I understand! Why a lowly human like you has become so strong!]

He finally realized the foundation of the power engraved in Suho's body.

[This is the taste of magic used by the demonic spirits! Did a shaman of the magic world imitate our demon race's growth method in a human body? I thought I felt someone ripping off my spiritual body!]

[The King of Demons, the Monarch of White Flames, realizes the principle behind the creation of the level-up system.]

'What?' This time, even Suho couldn't help but be surprised. He had been wondering why the system messages were unusually chatty today. Could the material of that system be...?

[Khehe. There's only one guy in the magic world who would research such sorcery. The Great Spellcaster Kandiaru! He was always desperate to surpass Yogumunt and become the Monarch of transfiguration!] Baran couldn't help but discern a lot of information through his battle with Suho.

Strangely, there was an unknown wound on his spiritual body from the moment he woke up in the world of nothingness. As if someone had forcibly ripped off a part of his soul. But only after directly tasting Suho's blood and flesh did he become certain. The only one who would want to research the spiritual body of a dead Monarch to this extent was Kandiaru, the eternal second-in-command of the magic world.

[Yes, it's certainly possible with that guy's magic! But how greedy can he be, to not only rip off my spiritual body and create a replica of me, but to completely apply the demon race's growth method to a lowly human?]

Baran was truly dumbfounded as he realized the hidden truth. Yogumunt, the Monarch Transfiguration. The Great Spellcaster Kandiaru, who was always aiming for Yogumunt's position right under him. He had tried everything to grow his own rank, even when the tide of the war was turning.

[And the result is you?] Baran looked at Suho with renewed interest. More precisely, at the demon race's growth method, the 'level-up system,' engraved within him.

No. Not demon race's.

The growth system of the 'residents of the gap,' who killed living beings, absorbed the nutrients of their souls, and grew infinitely.

Smirk.

Realizing this fact, Baran licked his lips ominously as he looked at Suho.

[I'm curious. What would happen if I devoured the nutrients you've consumed so far?]

Crackle!

Electricity flowed through his saliva covered teeth.