Zap-!
Although I increased my Sense to the maximum, I couldn’t see beyond the curtain. It didn’t matter as the reason I entered the Realm of the Ultimate wasn’t for this anyway. I widened my eyes at the exact moment the curtain noticeably shook.
Black energy, thinner than a thread, revealed itself below the curtain. It was fast. It looked like it was rushing toward the host’s body.
When I shifted my vision to the inner world, it was flowing along an old scar engraved in the area responsible for powers. The thread-like energy was entwining the entire domain of powers. It was a phenomenon so subtle that I couldn’t recognize before.
This was how Doom Kaos could enslave the Demon Kings under his command. They could break free from this when they cut it, and if they could restore the parts that were solidified as scars, they could wield the powers within themselves freely.
All my efforts to unravel the restriction on the powers had been futile from the very beginning. There were two conditions. First, one needed to be in the Realm of the Ultimate, and second, they had to be adept at observing the inner world. Until both conditions were met, it was impossible to confirm the structure of the restriction.
[The blueprint ‘Doom Kaos’s Restriction (SSS)’ has been added.]
[* Your Powers are bound. You cannot use the blueprint.]
My heart was pounding. If I lifted my head now, I would have looked like a child caught stealing. When I was about to regain my composure, a new message aggressively popped up.
[Your Almighty Master, Doom Kaos welcomes the return of Doom Man.]
For now, Doom Kaos accepted me again. However, the silence that followed was extremely uncomfortable. As I lowered my head, all I could see were the pitch-black stairs.
It was a substance that couldn’t be comprehended by common sense. The ancient shrine was also made of such ultra-strong material. I wondered if I could destroy it if I wielded the Great Silver with ultimate Strength and Agility.
While such thoughts crossed my mind, something else happened.
[Doom Entegasto has been expelled.]
[Doom Man has succeeded Doom Entegasto’s position.]
[Doom Undead has succeeded Doom Man’s position.]
[The Old Necromancer Corps (Barba Corps) now obey Doom Undead.]
At that moment, a chilling sensation brushed past my ear. Joshua, who had suddenly appeared next to me, barely managed to steady himself while checking his surroundings. Even if he could send me a transmission instead of directly talking to me, it must have been a burden to use it in front of Doom Kaos.
Joshua looked at me, kneeling, with a painful gaze. I wanted to tell him to keep his composure and that I could kneel a hundred times to achieve my goal. This was not something shameful for me.
However, Joshua’s face then faintly contorted. By the time he looked at the curtain, there was no sign of hesitation in his face anymore. He began to kneel naturally as if he had been prepared for this moment for quite a while.
The time between his appearance and him kneeling was very short, but it appeared like a very long time for him. His painful gaze that cast down upon me moments before, gave off such a feeling.
That was when I averted my gaze and shouted. It was not toward the curtain. As I shouted with my head bowed, my deep voice echoed as it hit the floor, “Please give me the powers and Land of Death that were permitted to Entegasto!”
Doom Kaos’s answer was unexpected. The curtain shook violently, and messages telling me to hand over the Bone Ring to Joshua showed up.
[* You cannot use the item ‘Doom Man’s Bone Ring that the Dead Revere.’ (Unique Power ‘King of the Dead’).]
[Conditions have not been met.]
His order to hand over the ring without giving me anything in return was contrary to the attitude he had shown earlier toward me.
Has he started to be cautious of me?
He had no intention of granting me the powers and Land of Death that had been given to Entegasto.
“The Bone Ring is one of the main forces that your servant, I have earned myself. How can you take it away from me like this? Even though many ancient dragons have disappeared, the Great Red still remains before your servant.”
I continued, “Also, if Doom Arukuda cannot face the Great Gold, that is also your servant’s responsibility. You might not remember, but one of the reasons your servant is loyal is because the cunning Old One treated me like a disposable tool. Do you, too, intend to treat your faithful servant as disposable? No one can replace your servant, including Doom Undead.”
It was not because I was anxious to empower Joshua. Unlike the false faith we showed to Doom Kaos, the loyalty Joshua showed me was genuine.
Then, an unfamiliar voice flowed from beside me.
“Doom Man is not qualified to rule the Land of Death.”
The eyes that stared at me as he turned his head were utterly cold. He even reached out his hand confidently.
“Please give your bone ring to me.”
***
The Bone Ring was being purified in Joshua’s hands. Soon, his pupils dilated when he put it on. His focus was nowhere here. He was clearly staring at something that did not exist here. Somehow, it wasn’t just a feeling that his eyes seemed to be shining with many stars.
[Doom Undead has become the new owner of the ‘Saint Land of Death.’]
[On the day the war ends in victory, Saint Dragorin will also fall under the control of Doom Undead.]
I raised my voice, “Almighty Master. What is your order? Under what order does your servant belong? It is undeniable that Doom Undead has been following your servant. So how should I accept handing over all my achievements to Doom Undead?”
I added, “I thought that the powers and lands of rule that were allowed to Entegasto would be mine once I proved my capability. That is why your servant could undertake such an adventure. However, if this is the result, your servant cannot hide his disappointment. My Master, Doom Kaos, your servant only wishes for one thing. Please recognize my merits. Please appease your servant so that I can defeat the remaining enemies.”
The curtain stopped shaking. It was a bad signal. Despite my strong demand, he must have thought that inviting me into his realm was more than enough. It was time to ascend, so I soared toward the curtain.
The curtain eased its tension and accepted me. Then, it was after that. This light was…
It was so bright that I couldn’t open my eyes. Contrary to his identity represented as a demon, the space was filled only with a very bright light. The perception network captured that Doom Kaos was undoubtedly concentrated at the top of the stairs with an unfathomable aura.
My eyes quickly adapted to the light. Only then did I realize what the bright light that filled this space was. The beams of light coming in from all around the space were connected into one, and there were things that were radiating from them. It was not the aura of any power as each beam was full of life energy.
It was a thing that I had removed in Act Two, Stage One and that I had used before. Light Pillar! Those that were supposed to be somewhere were still connected to Doom Kaos.
Once I became accustomed to the light, I did not have to rely on the sensory network. I began to see the figure of Doom Kaos with my naked eyes. Feet were touching the floor where the throne was located, and both arms were lightly resting on the armrests. I shifted my gaze, following the lines of his figure to his neck. He was not a formless being.
He was bipedal, not much different from us. There was no time for me to swallow the saliva that had involuntarily gathered in my mouth. My gaze continued to go upward. I was full of determination that I would see his face directly.
[Warning: You lack Power Resistance.]
I was able to realize what it felt like for time to shatter into pieces. When I came to my senses, I was on my knees. The afterimages remaining in my head were broken into countless fragments, making my mind go blank.
Yet, when the myriad afterimages finally aligned, I could recall the two eyeballs that had been looking down at me. Those terrifying eyes were embedded in a black face… Those sinister eyes were still looking down at me even now.
“My Master.”
I suppressed my breath that was frantically heaving, and I moved my head again. I could see the legs, chest, neck, then…
[Warning: You lack Power Resistance.]
Fuck. The feeling of my nerves snapping was not only from the outside. The parasite-like authority that had taken root in my inner world was also moving at the same time, pressing down on me from both inside and outside. It was clearly a warning not to challenge his sanctity.
However, when I hit the floor, blood was dripping and spreading on the floor, probably starting from my forehead. It had been a long time since I last saw it.
“It was also a trade. Please recognize my dedication.”
I murmured.
“No one wants to end this war more than your servant. Do you understand? I am even more desperate than you!”
It was an excuse to see his face, but I actually meant it. I was prepared.
As I lifted my head abruptly, the same message as before was floating in front of me. I couldn’t hold it in and spit it out. Despite spitting out a mouthful of blood, droplets continued to fall to the floor. It didn’t stop.
Light seeped into the blood pooled on the floor. For a moment, my trembling face was reflected there and then disappeared.
Yes, I saw his face properly, and his eyes had nothing left but greed and ambition.
***
The Dooms under him had created a new entity, but he had not. I was sure. In a long course of time, his personality had been dulled and had nothing left but greed to become a mighty power and the only sanctity. Doom Kaos…
He was able to emanate such overwhelming terror as he was solely focused on that obsession. Therefore, my pounding heart and the shrinking of my body were just survival instincts that I could not control. The ability to properly observe one’s own state was the very fundamental foundation to ascend as a high-class Awakened.
This time, my heart did not completely yield to him because I confirmed that he was an entity that I could bring down. He was no different from those of us who had eyes, noses, and mouths. The Old One would be the same as he was once driven into a corner by such a thing!
Yes, I was happy. Very happy. Before the trembling stopped in my body, I shouted once more. I didn’t lift my head as I had already achieved my purpose. I only stared at the floor where the blood had pooled.
“If you will not grant me any authority and land!”
Splat!
I wiped the blood that burst from my mouth.
“At least you should give me something that can replace the Bone Ring. My Loooooooord-!”
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