Chapter 204: Perhaps Not Human

Episode 204

This was the midpoint of a level 2 demon world dungeon.

The vast plain, which should have been teeming with monsters, was completely empty.

Only piles of ash, the remnants of what were once monsters, remained scattered across the ground.

Standing in the middle of the plain was the one responsible for creating this scene of devastation.

He was currently forming two giant Mana spheres in his palms, preparing to repeat the spectacle he had been performing.

“Just a little more, a little more, a little more…”

Kim Jinsung muttered, his face contorted with concentration. He then launched the two spheres forward.

The spheres collided mid-air, and

**Boooom!**

Another deafening explosion erupted, creating a massive shockwave that reached even Kim Jinsung, despite the distance.

When the dust settled, a giant crater had formed.

“…This is the limit of my current power.”

He looked at the crater and said.

It was the largest and deepest of the many craters he had created.

[That’s enough.]

Dantilion replied.

[Not many Middle Realm beings can unleash such destructive power. Even I can only count a few on one hand.]

“Tsk… It’s still not enough. I feel like I can compress the Mana even further, but it’s not working…”

He clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction and then said with determination,

“I need to practice here for a while. My goal is to double the current firepower.”

[Hehehe…]

He extended his palms again, ignoring Dantilion’s chuckle, which held various meanings.

**Boooom!**

Another explosion echoed from afar, and Dantilion muttered,

[This is truly amazing, no matter how many times I see it.]

“What is?”

[A mere Middle Realm being, using both Demonic Energy and Heavenly Energy.]

“Is that rare?”

[Rare? I’ve never seen it before in my entire existence!]

Dantilion suddenly raised his voice.

[Do you have any idea how significant it is that you’re using both Heavenly Energy and Demonic Energy simultaneously?! You’ve achieved something that no demon or angel has ever been able to do!]

“Why couldn’t anyone else do something this easy?”

[W-what…?]

“I just killed a guy with Heavenly Energy and absorbed his ability.”

Kim Jinsung replied nonchalantly, as if it were as simple as a right-handed person learning to use a spoon with their left hand.

Dantilion was speechless, dumbfounded by his casual attitude.

[…Have you never questioned your own abilities?]

“Well, I thought it was a great ability, and I was lucky to have it. I didn’t think I needed to analyze why I was lucky.”

[I’m not talking about the absorption ability itself.]

“…Then what?”

[Have you never wondered why there’s no limit to your absorption?]

“Limit?”

[Yes! Limit!]

Dantilion continued,

[Do you think it’s possible for countless abilities to fit inside your tiny body, which isn’t even 2 meters tall?]

Kim Jinsung was taken aback.

He had never thought about the ‘limit’ of his absorption before.

[What Middle Realm beings call traits and skills are all forms of transformed Mana.

In other words, the abilities you can use are determined by the internal structure of your body.

Do you think someone with a body that can only store cold Mana can use fire abilities?]

“…Was that impossible?”

[Of course! If it were that easy, Middle Realm would be full of ability users who could freely use elemental skills! Think about it!]

…He was right.

Seol Daun, who could freely use elemental skills, was considered one of the greatest geniuses in the history of the Colosseum.

If there were many ability users who could use multiple elemental abilities, Seol Daun wouldn’t be considered a genius.

[Even demon lords can only use abilities related to Demonic Energy. And the same goes for those winged hypocrites in the heavens!]

…The winged hypocrites were probably angels.

“But why can I use them all?”

[Exactly. You have a body specialized for Demonic Energy, and yet you can freely use elemental abilities, and even Heavenly Energy, which is its opposite.

This means that your current body is not normal, beyond just the absorption ability.]

“Not normal?”

[Yes. You’re either a mutant with a unique body that can contain all types of abilities, or…]

He trailed off and then continued,

[…Or you’re not human.]

“…Huh?”

Kim Jinsung’s expression finally changed.

He wasn’t human?

“That doesn’t make sense. I still have vivid memories of my childhood, living in an orphanage. I grew up as an ordinary human, just like everyone else.

Well, maybe a bit more unfortunate than others, but…”

[That doesn’t prove anything.]

Dantilion cut him off, his voice firm.

[Your ‘soul’ defines your existence, not your physical body, which is just a shell.

There have been cases where divine beings from other dimensions have entered the bodies of Middle Realm beings due to certain events. It’s extremely rare, but it happens.

You’ll find out eventually. If you’re not human, your body will eventually transform to match your soul.]

Kim Jinsung listened quietly and then asked,

“Is that important right now?”

[…What?]

Dantilion sounded confused.

“Does it matter if I’m human or not? It doesn’t seem important to me at all.”

[What nonsense are you spouting?! A soul from another dimension accidentally entering the body of a Middle Realm being is a grave matter!

It could even lead to a large-scale war between dimensions…!]

“That’s your problem.”

[Y-you insolent brat!!]

Kim Jinsung continued, unfazed by Dantilion’s outburst,

“All that matters to me right now is becoming the ‘strongest on Earth’. That’s the only way I can survive with the entire New Continent as my enemy.

We can worry about souls and other things later. I have to be on guard 24/7, in case I get assassinated the moment I step outside…”

He started forming Demonic Energy and Heavenly Energy spheres in his palms again, focusing on compressing the Mana.

Dantilion sighed, seeing him completely engrossed in his training.

[…Sigh, fine. Why am I wasting my energy arguing with a Middle Realm brat when I could be becoming a demon lord?

It’ll all be revealed eventually…]

**Boooom!**

Another explosion interrupted him.

“Yes! The compression rate is much higher now that I’m getting used to it.”

Kim Jinsung cheered, seeing the larger and deeper crater.

[You said you were aiming for the strongest on Earth, right?]

“Yeah.”

[Your current destructive power is more than enough. Do you think any living being in the Middle Realm can withstand the power of this ‘Incrucio’ phenomenon?]

“That’s only if it’s a one-on-one fight.”

Kim Jinsung immediately refuted him.

“I’m in a situation where all the executives of the Major Clans in the New Continent could attack me at any moment.

In other words, I need to be strong enough to survive even if all the Rankers attack me at once. And I’m not there yet.”

[Hmm…]

Dantilion thought for a moment and then suggested,

[Then it’s simple. I can put you up against a powerful being in a demon world dungeon who can help you grow stronger.]

He was suggesting that Kim Jinsung kill the being and absorb its abilities.

“That would be great, but it’s difficult to enter high-level demon world dungeons right now. The Paladins are heavily guarding the entrances and the interiors.”

Kim Jinsung had thought about it too.

But all the high-level demon world dungeons were controlled by Major Clans.

He had learned that they monopolized specific demon world dungeons and charged entrance fees and a percentage of the loot from hunters who came to raid them.

“Is this even legal? You can’t even enter a dungeon freely without money and connections? No wonder ordinary citizens are cheering for Ukobachi.”

Major Clans monopolized everything profitable, including dungeons, monster fields, mines, and special products.

That was why so many hunters were disillusioned with the reality of the New Continent.

They came here, lured by the rumors of a world where the strong could have anything they wanted, only to realize that individual strength wasn’t enough to reach the top.

“I need to change this system where Major Clans control everything, even if it’s just for my own benefit.”

As he was speaking, Dantilion said,

[I can help you with that.]

“With what?”

[With getting into a high-level demon world dungeon.]

As he spoke,

a giant black rift suddenly appeared in front of Kim Jinsung, as if the dimension itself was splitting apart.

Kim Jinsung looked at the rift, just large enough for a person to pass through, and asked,

“…Is that a path to a high-level dungeon?”

[Yes. Go in.]

He stepped into the darkness of the rift.

His surroundings changed completely, and

**Roar!**

The first thing he saw were countless giant black dragons, roaring at him.

[This is a level 45 Dark Dragon Dungeon. It’s a difficulty level you can easily clear with your current power.]

Kim Jinsung grinned at Dantilion’s words.

He couldn’t help but smile, feeling satisfied.

“Yes! This is it!”

He shouted and charged towards the dragons.

—