Royal Procession (1)
There was nothing rough about it.
The rise in his Demon King assimilation rate didn't just affect his domination power. Jeonghyeon's body, wielding Dissection Swordsmanship, felt utterly free.
Dungeons were the domain of "monsters" to begin with. And as the Demon King—the ruler at the pinnacle of those monsters—Jeonghyeon was freer here than anywhere else.
Just a mere 2 percent difference. The fact that his Demon King assimilation had hit 10 percent alone made him feel like an entirely different being.
The dungeon floor, hidden from humans, revealed its true face, ceaselessly spewing ominous mana that choked humanity—but to Jeonghyeon, it felt as cozy as a playground he'd romped around in for years.
The comfort was so profound that he momentarily forgot his worries and found a rare peace.
'Yeah... that's why...'
It was the moment everything clicked.
The disgust he'd felt toward goblins in the D-rank field—the true nature of that revulsion.
It was the loathing toward lowly scum daring to rampage before the Demon King.
Boom! Thud!
Kieeeek!!
Kruek!
A faint smile spread across Jeonghyeon's serene face, while the dungeon's monsters scattered like they'd encountered a natural disaster.
"This guy's... a porter...?"
Jeonghu, who'd thought himself pretty strong now, struggled just to keep up. He could hardly believe his eyes.
Hundreds—no, what looked like over a thousand monsters fell like harvested rice stalks in Jeonghyeon's wake, their bodies shredded and littering the ground. Most were D-rank, sure, but even accounting for that, it defied reality.
Kii... kieek!
The surviving monsters, sensing death from Jeonghyeon—who only pressed forward—tried to flee on instinct.
But before the fanatic servant of the Demon King, Nus, they met their end.
Nus, thrilled that his master had finally gained power rivaling the Demon King, shamelessly stripped mana from his former kin, devouring monsters like an endless-hunger Behemoth.
Like a massive locust swarm devastating crops just by passing, Nus—spread thin as mist—left nothing but barren desolation in his wake, no monsters or mana spared.
This was the spectacle unfolding before Jeonghu's eyes.
Yet for some reason, he felt no anxiety or fear. Just a strange relief and loyalty watching the back of the man he followed.
"Nus. Any mana signatures?"
After cleaving through foes for a while without breaking a sweat, Jeonghyeon asked flatly.
"Yes. I see it."
At Nus's words, Jeonghyeon halted, gesturing for direction.
"Straight ahead."
"Keep advancing?"
"No. Behold the feet of the Demon King."
Nus, now a deep purple after massacring and absorbing countless monsters, curled into a ball and climbed onto Jeonghyeon's shoulder.
Then, beneath his feet, the shattered stone floor began vibrating roughly, sand and gravel trembling.
Rumble—!
"This guy's... the lord of this dungeon."
Red Vine Ent
Rank: A+
Weakness: Mana Core
Features: Monster born from ancient tree vines reacting to a mana core. Sacred tree revered by dryads; grows stronger the wider and deeper its roots spread.
Monsters dominating on a regional scale... this'll be a pain.
Red Vine Ent.
A familiar face from Afraksas, showing up now and then.
A massive ancient tree trunk with knothole eyes, bark-layered mouth, and enormous arms.
'An Ent, huh...'
Guardian deity to some elf tribes, or local earth spirit overseeing entire regions.
'They'd bless you when you met, or spin good tales...'
Meeting one like this again left Jeonghyeon with a bitter smile.
"Grooo—."
The beast spewed thick mana, radiating fierce hostility. Hundreds of dryads, inheriting its enmity, advanced slowly.
"Kukuku... Look at that face. You seem pretty worried?"
Several Evil Eyes flapped wings around Jeonghyeon, spectating.
As if putting on a show for demons eager to witness his demise.
"So, the demons bet on me, huh?"
"Of course! Everyone's thrilled betting on how you'll die. Heh heh. You thought there was just one Evil Eye?"
Whether the one assigned to him was elite, or they were watching from afar, they kept provoking despite sensing the Demon King's power in his voice.
"No one bet on me winning?"
"Puhaha! Just one. Someone who loves the thrill of long-shot reverse bets."
"Name."
"...Why?"
Jeonghyeon spoke calmly, eyes fixed ahead, ignoring the Evil Eyes.
"Gonna spare that bastard later."
—Attack.
At Jeonghyeon's unspoken command, Jeonghu and Nus charged simultaneously.
"Grooo—!!"
The Ent bellowed grotesquely, and dryads attacked in unison.
Wooden spears rained down like a sky-filling barrage.
"I'll feast nicely!!"
Nus spread wide, absorbing all the mana within as he advanced.
Mana-propelled spears lost power passing through him, falling like hollow branches.
"Storm Dragon Fist! One Strike!!"
Dryads from Nus's unguarded flank fell to Jeonghu.
His gauntlets were still sealed, rock-like, but infused with manticore power via mana stone weapon.
Thud—!
The straight-shot mana pierced several dryads.
"Storm Dragon Fist... Cleave!"
Jeonghu leaped, weaving through dryads, smashing bodies and heads.
He steadily thinned their numbers, but the overwhelming horde soon surrounded him.
"Feasted well... time to return the favor!"
Nus, who'd gathered mana from dungeon depths, compressed his body extremely.
Gro—?!
Smaller than original, spherical, mana clashed around him, heat rising.
"Begone!!"
As Jeonghu took a hit from a dryad, Nus detonated the amassed mana.
Kaboom!!!
Like a mini nuke, the massive mana field was simple yet devastating.
"...A slime pulling off attacks like this?"
A dryad lancer behind Jeonghu disintegrated into dust.
Not just her.
The area cleared spotless, erasing dryads utterly. Even broadcasting Evil Eyes exploded without trace.
"Lucky you're on our side...!"
Amid it, Jeonghu sighed in relief—noting he and Jeonghyeon unscathed.
Discriminating ally from foe in such an attack? Unbelievable.
'Not bad.'
Jeonghyeon strolled through casually, unimpressed.
Grooo—!!
The panicked Ent retreated, summoning more: giant forest golems, fresh dryads.
Its years rooting in the west weren't bluff; numbers rivaled defense dungeons.
"Tch!"
Nus, post-blast recovering, spread to absorb—but more monsters sprouted endlessly from roots.
"One Strike! One Strike!!"
Jeonghu fought desperately, but as a 1v1 fighter at core, couldn't handle the swarm.
Grooo!
The Ent smirked, summoning more.
Crunch!
Roots spread via floor and rubble, expanding territory, arm extending to crush Jeonghyeon's party.
Thud—!
As the massive root-arm loomed.
...Thud.
...Rumble...!
Rumble rumble!!!
"Jeonghyeon-nim!! I'm here—!"
From afar, Philip barreled in like a Rampaging Chariot, smashing floor and walls.
Dryads and golems shattered before his indiscriminate charge.
Boom!!!
Finally pulverizing the Ent's arm, Philip stood before Jeonghyeon, dark-red glow leaking from his left eye.
"Glad I wasn't late...!"
"Knew you wouldn't be."
Jeonghyeon smiled satisfied at his first dominated subordinate, comrade, most trusted ally.
Philip grinned back.
"Now then... time to prove yourself?"
"Your junior's watching. Show him what you've got."
Hierarchy sorting.
Jeonghu would grow as boss dealer and new subordinate, but for now, far below Philip—needed showing.
Otherwise, Philip loses face.
Not comrades or friends, but dominator-dominated. Messy subordinate ranks crumble organizations.
Jeonghyeon prioritized Philip now and always, so time to clarify. That's why he held back. But above all, Jeonghyeon felt it deepest.
'Right now, Philip's as strong as me.'
The nature of Demon King power.
The principle strengthening kin beyond oneself.
"Gro...!"
The Ent, seeing Philip crush hundreds of minions and its arm just by charging, recoiled in terror.
It'd soon root into cracks and hide, complicating the clear.
"Where you going!!!!"
Philip's shout—buffed by Jeonghyeon, morale peaked—froze it.
'Shout's already this strong?'
Halting a regional boss monster.
What happens at 100 percent assimilation?
"Value Proof."
Philip activated the cylinder on his Wakin-forged armor, slowly raising his heavy arm.
The weight evident just lifting, Soul of the Mountain swung down.
"Double Hit!"