Chapter 1030: The Divine Tree and the Master.

Kwagagagag–!!

A colossal body invades Mt. Mareong. It was a monster with black skin entwined with demonic energy and a massive build.

It called itself Mang with its own mouth, a white monster that had been hiding underground in the North Sea, originally a dragon.

It was also the first-rank monster I hunted when I awakened Greed.

Such a guy, having become a monster through a summon, charges at the Leader.

There were certainly monsters among the others that seemed large, but its physique was utterly incomparable.

It was at a level where a single gesture could possibly erase a hill, so it was only natural.

Kruaaaaaa–!!

The mountain vibrates with the roar. Mang howls and swings its hand. Its heavy arm descends upon the Leader.

“Hup-!”

Kuwoong-!

The Leader lets out a groan and blocks the arm.

Kwadeudeuk-!!!

Unable to withstand the weight, the floor the Leader stands on cracks ominously. If we only consider the difference in class, it would be standard for the Leader to lose.

“Insignificant fool-!”

The Leader, as if unaffected, grabs the arm they were blocking. Then.

Kwak-!

Mang’s body floats up into the air. Because the Leader grabbed and lifted its arm.

The sight is absurd. They casually lifted that massive body.

“Hooop-!”

Then, exhaling a breath, they slam Mang directly into the ground.

Kwaaaaaang-!!!

The ground shook. The formation of monsters and beasts fighting was thrown into disarray by the great vibration.

‘As expected.’

Even seeing that, I remained unfazed. In the first place, I didn’t think Mang could win against the Leader.

I just wanted to see how helpful it would be.

‘It’s certain.’

Both the one with the wings of ‘Jeop’ and Mang, for that matter.

‘They are significantly weaker than when they were in their original bodies.’

The difference was clear. Even back then, it wasn’t particularly fast. Mang’s current speed was considerably slower compared to then. And it looked weak.

If so.

‘Does this mean they can’t exert the full power of their original bodies?’

If the state of these first-rank monsters, which I thought could only be faced one-on-one after reaching transcendence, is like this.

‘Perhaps there’s no need to summon them right now.’

Such a thought crossed my mind.

Krrrrr……!

Mang gets its body up. It charges at the Leader again. Seeing that, just as the Leader was about to move their arm again.

Kwadeuk-!

“……!”

Suddenly, something bit the Leader’s neck. It was the Jeop monster that had been thrown onto the ground earlier, its body pierced.

That creature had recovered long ago and charged at the Leader again.

Mang swings its arm again at the Leader, whose body momentarily stopped due to the attack.

Kwadeuk-!

Its large fist digs directly into the Leader. The Leader hastily blocks with their axe, but their body floats up completely.

Mang charges at the floating creature with its mouth wide open, swallowing it.

Kwadeuk-!!

The Leader was swallowed along with the Jeop monster.

Gulp.

Mang’s throat moved noticeably.

‘Hmm?’

Did it really get eaten? Is that how it ends? As I frowned in bewilderment.

Krrrr…….

Mang lets out a cry.

At that moment.

Uwoooong-!!!

A vibration was felt from its belly. Seeing that, I thought, ‘As expected.’

There’s no way it would end like that.

I hadn’t thought the Leader would be eaten in such a fight. It was as I expected.

Uwoooong-!!!!

From Mang’s belly area, energy and immense heat were felt along with the vibration.

Not long after that.

Woong-!

Along with a glimpse of red light from its belly.

Kwaaaaaang-!!!

Mang’s body exploded outwards. Its body scattered like fragments, rolling on the ground, and soon after, it turned into energy and dissipated in the wind.

That dissipated energy returned to my body and a certain amount was absorbed.

Feeling this, I could understand. This is how a monster ends when it can’t endure.

Feeling Mang’s defeat was certain, I looked at the Leader.

“Keeureureu…….”

It was gasping for breath, clutching Jeop’s neck in one hand.

“Khuu… Hoo….”

It seemed somewhat tired, breathing heavily, and residual heat was visible flowing on its shoulder.

Seeing this, I could figure out what happened.

‘Self-destruction.’

It condensed the energy within its body and used itself as a medium to explode.

Thanks to that, Mang’s body was shattered like that, but this also means it placed an immense burden on its own body.

Isn’t the Leader, who possesses immense regenerative power and is said to be immortal, showing signs of exhaustion right now?

“Hooook…… Hoo….”

Watching it continue to breathe, I clicked my thumb and index finger together.

Ttak-!

With a sound, the Jeop monster held in its hand dissipated.

Energy fills my heart. I didn’t maintain it any longer and recalled it.

This much is enough.

Thanks to the Leader, I could gauge the efficiency of the summon to some extent. And roughly estimate how to use it.

Therefore.

“Now, I can finish this.”

I had no more questions.

Thinking so, I leaped slightly.

Tung.

I approached right in front of the Leader. The Leader, as if having foreseen it long ago, tries to swing their axe again, but.

“Stop.”

“……!”

Its body froze instantly.

Using the command just before it moved minimized the recoil.

Confirming its frozen state, I opened my palm.

Giiiying.

A ring rotates within.

Black Heaven unfolded, covering the sky, and I cast Sky Heaven, heating up my body.

My loosened muscles tensed, increasing their intensity.

Giiiiiying-!!!!

Friction begins.

I stir up Chaos to draw forth energy. My meridians expanded, and pain was felt.

I gathered the energy created in my tingling body directly onto my palm.

To the eye, it resembled the Flame Prison.

Within a perfect black sphere, a blazing blue light seeped.

Around the sphere, which seemed about to burst with light, a ring formed as if surrounded by small clouds.

“Kkuh-!”

Sensing something unusual, the Leader tries to force their body to move. Their mouth was too strong to be bound for long.

Tuk-!

A feeling of something snapping brushed past, and the Leader’s restraint was broken.

The Leader tries to press their attack on me, but.

“Explode.”

I was ready on my end.

“Heavenly Demon’s Chaos Orb.”

Woong-!

Kkiyaaaaaaaa-!!!

The energy screamed and exploded. With immense destructive power, the surroundings burst apart, and the energy shot up into the sky.

A massive mushroom cloud, large enough to cover the area, engulfed Mt. Mareong.

---

Tuduk.

Tududuk.

Fragments fell amidst the swirling smoke. The wind blew, and the smoke that had been obscuring the view gradually cleared.

A wide and deep crater had formed on the ground, composed solely of rock.

The sizzling sound was the ground melting. The residual heat had melted the rocks, and the sight resembled flowing lava.

A murky, bluish lava encroached upon the crater, flowing down.

Amidst that bizarre sight. I stood right in the center.

I walked a bit, trampling the viscous lava.

Chiiiyik.

As I stepped on it with my toes, I heard the sound of melting. Seeing that, I had to let out a hollow laugh.

‘Even with energy surrounding me, this is the state I’m in.’

It wasn’t melting my shoes, but the protective aura surrounding them.

Considering it was made from my own energy.

‘This bastard doesn’t even recognize its master.’

Perhaps it’s because its name is Chaos. The mad thing wasn’t recognizing its master.

It’s an absurd energy.

‘It means I’ll be screwed if I use it incorrectly.’

Its destructive power is immense, but it also means there’s a high chance of being swept away if I can’t control it.

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue and walked forward.

Walking forward a bit, I found a spot where the ground was particularly melted and filled with lava.

The place where Heavenly Demon’s Chaos Orb had truly detonated.

There.

“You have a long life. To still be breathing.”

“Kuhuhu…….”

The Leader was kneeling.

Half of its upper right torso was gone, revealing the bones.

Seeing that, I felt a slight admiration. The fact that the entire upper torso didn’t explode, only that part.

‘It means it managed to evade to some extent amidst that.’

It meant it focused on defense and evasion in that brief moment.

As I was expressing my admiration seeing that.

“You…”

The Leader looked at its sizzling body and asked me.

“What… what did you do?”

Its weak voice was filled with bewilderment. It couldn’t be helped.

“Why…”

“Why aren’t you regenerating?”

Its body isn’t regenerating.

Meaning, its skin is busy melting away, making its divine authority of immortality meaningless.

Immense pain must be felt throughout the Leader’s body. It seems bewilderment comes before pain for it.

Then, I should answer that question.

“It’s only natural.”

I walked forward and approached it. Its size, larger than mine even while kneeling, was impressive.

“Because I did not permit you to live.”

“……What?”

“Without my permission, you can do nothing. That is the natural order of things.”

As I said that with a smile, the Leader’s expression was a sight to behold.

So even a cow’s face can make such an expression.

Watching that with curiosity, I moved my energy.

The reason it can’t recover? That’s obvious; it’s thanks to Greed’s work.

The Heavenly Demon’s Chaos Orb I used on it.

I mixed Greed’s divine authority into it and used it.

‘So I can use it like this too.’

It wasn’t just manifesting as a divine authority, but could also be mixed into martial arts.

It was a good harvest for trying it just in case.

Of course, I feel some fatigue because I have to maintain it immediately after use, but.

It’s great that I can use it.

“Krrrrrr…….”

Since it’s not regenerating, the Leader’s body is gradually burning.

Tuk-!

I heard the sound of something falling behind me.

Turning around, I saw Cheonma.

Seeing her, I asked.

“Is it over?”

“Yep.”

Looking at her body, there wasn’t a single scratch.

Her clothes were slightly torn and dusty, but otherwise, she seemed fine.

‘Was the opponent weak?’

Or is Cheonma strong?

Hiding that curiosity, I asked.

“That guy.”

“Ah.”

Cheonma replied to my question.

“I missed him.”

“……”

“He was fast……”

It was quite an audacious reply.