Millennia-Old Hundred-Legged Sovereign (Complete)
"Hm..."
Choi Siwoo calmly surveyed his surroundings. The sky was dim and overcast, with the fading sunset as the only light source, painting the world in crimson hues. In the distance, a massive mountain loomed like a watercolor painting, while a babbling brook flowed gently beside it. It was a place so picturesque that words of admiration slipped out naturally.
Hard to believe this was just the Mental Image Realm conjured by a mere boss.
'Except for one thing.'
"Quee-shi-reek!"
A gigantic centipede, easily over 10 meters long, stared at him with eerie movements. Piles of bones from dozens of skeletons littered the area, their tattered clothes suggesting an era over a century old. This space recreated the past—specifically, the centipede's prime.
Oomukade activates Mental Image Realm - Village Terror.
All of Oomukade's stats increase.
Of course, monsters were living beings with their own powers. They had their territories, and some reached the realm called "Dignity."
'Considering that one requirement for Dignity is a Mental Image Realm...'
The beast before him had taken that step toward ascension.
"Quee-reek!!"
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a ear-splitting screech echoed. With a rattling shrrrrk, Oomukade whipped its hook-tipped tail like a lash.
Choi Siwoo registered the clearly accelerated speed since its initial appearance and swiftly raised his sword flat to block.
Boom!
A explosive friction rang out. He floated briefly before increasing his weight for a quick landing. Power surged into his ankles. Kicking off the ground, he lunged toward the beast—
"...?!"
His thoughts cut short. Alarms blared in his head, signaling danger. In less than a second, he sensed another tail approaching from the side.
Thud!
The impact to his flank sent him flying backward, crashing through a nearby villager's house and tumbling inside.
Master. It's coming from above!
'I know!'
He kicked off the room's floor instantly.
Boom!
The ceiling collapsed as Oomukade burst in.
"Quee-reek!"
'What was that just now?'
He'd definitely blocked it and seen the tail retract. He'd aimed for the obvious opening. Yet he'd still taken a hit.
'...No way.'
A realization flashed. Then another attack closed in.
'Hup!'
Powering up, he slashed upward like lightning.
Boom!
The ground cratered. A crunch echoed as a crack formed on his blade. He tensed his wrists, varying rotational force to deflect the absurd mass smoothly.
Choi Siwoo closed his eyes, watching Oomukade retract its tail. Faint wind whispered in his sensitive ears. Focusing, he heightened all senses.
In that instant, he felt the unnatural dissonance of an attack exploiting his blind spot.
'...Now!'
He reversed his grip and thrust fiercely.
Squelch!
Ink-black liquid splattered his face. Beyond the embedded blade, a wriggling tail segment twitched.
Choi Siwoo was certain. 'Afterimage clone.'
Likely infusing physical force into its shadow, manifesting as a follow-up strike.
'Annoying ability.'
Master. It's coming again!
Oomukade closed the distance rapidly, weaving S-shapes like a serpent before slamming its gaping maw down.
"...Quek!"
The startled Oomukade lifted its head, locking eyes with Choi Siwoo mid-leap in the air.
"Quee-shee-ak!!"
Oomukade tensed its hundreds of legs, purple liquid beading at their tips before scattering like shotgun pellets.
Oomukade uses Poison Gatling (B+).
"...!"
It didn't end there. He sensed the clone targeting his back again—a perfect pincer attack.
Deciding to end both at once, he steadied his breath and ducked. Cold fire ignited in his chest. His heart pounded, blood accelerated, mana surged. Cool air on skin, menacing approach, crimson twilight—all senses sharpened.
Mysterious Skill Sublimates!
Drawing his waist sword, he unleashed a full-moon arc slash. Sword winds howled around him, shredding the clone, slicing poison shots, and slamming into Oomukade.
"Quee-shee-aaak!!"
A tearing scream rang out. Sword aura burrowed into Oomukade like a living thing. Amid shattering segments, its eyes gleamed with murderous life—a fierce will forged over millennia, ambition for higher realms fueling explosive talent.
Oomukade acquires a new technique.
Oomukade activates Molting (S)!
A new body emerged from the cracking shell. Oomukade, now even larger, charged madly.
"Quee-shi-rak!!!"
"......"
Choi Siwoo sheathed his sword, as if conceding. Oomukade paused in confusion—
Twitch!
Its body stiffened. Crushed to the ground, gravity multiplied several times, it screeched helplessly.
Jumping Seal (Lv.4) activates.
Black - Super Gravity activates.
Power strengthens proportional to damage dealt to target.
The skill from the Tangmari. It applied a special sticker, amplifying or inverting gravity. He'd placed it during the first tail block.
'Still... a bit immature.'
Rumble! The earth quaked. Despite the cratering ground, Oomukade lifted its body relentlessly. The clinging seal cracked, losing power.
'Fine.'
Distance and direction were set. Everything ready. He spread his right hand, powering up. The Irelua stigmata on his shoulder radiated holy light.
"Summon."
A subspace rift opened overhead. A white-gold cross plummeted vertically, accelerating like divine judgment.
Kaboom!!
Rumble... Choi Siwoo waved away the dust storm. In the massive crater, Oomukade's pulverized head lay in rigor mortis.
Oomukade defeated.
'A bit more practice, and it'll be a main skill.'
His past life had featured creative Jumping Seal users; this exceeded expectations. Triggerable at will, it synergized perfectly.
As he retrieved the relic and headed out—
Master. That!
"......!"
A fluttering paper danced over Oomukade's corpse. Its texture, form—identical to the contract from the beast raid.
Choi Siwoo snatched it just before it vanished. Heat pulsed in his palm. Soon, a scroll etched with a centipede silhouette appeared.
True - Arhat's Contract Document (Max) exerts unknown power.
◈ Cannot activate at this time.
"......"
Thoughts swirled: urge to check, guesses at its nature. He ignored them. Priorities first.
'Seol Garam and Jeon Eunbyeol.'
He dashed through the crumbling space.
Meanwhile, as Choi Siwoo battled the centipede in fierce combat, Seol Garam and Jeon Eunbyeol mounted their own desperate resistance.
"Hieeek!!"
"Ububuububububu!"
Ah, not a fight. Just fleeing for dear life.
Whirr!
"Ugh. Eunbyeol! W-what do we do about those?!"
"I-I don't know! A-and I told you to call me Eunbyeol!!"
Whirr!
A swarm of cockroaches pursued relentlessly. Objectively, not tough foes. Weaker than the mid-boss dung beetle, let alone Oomukade. But that didn't matter.
They were disgusting cockroaches. Over 2 meters each. And over a hundred of them.
Exhausted, Jeon Eunbyeol panted roughly, tripping on a rock. A cockroach seized the chance, leaping with its six hairy legs wriggling in that signature "hug me~" pose.
Jeon Eunbyeol shrieked.
"Hieeek!!"
She thought, 'Ah... this is the end for me.'
A super-genius frail beauty, wilting at 18. In such horror...
Tears streamed. Awaiting her "fated" doom—
"...?"
Nothing happened.
"...Huh?"
Peeking, she saw Seol Garam gripping the cockroach's body, ability active.
"G-Garam!"
"Grr... ugh..."
Seol Garam wanted to cry. Even frozen, it twitched violently, tears welling. She yearned to flee but couldn't.
"I-I won't let Eunbyeol get hurt... even more!"
"...Gasp!"
Touched, Jeon Eunbyeol teared up. Right—time for "big sis" to step up! Steeling herself, she spread her hands at the swarm.
"Y-your big sis will protect you, Garam!"
Unholy mana swirled around her hands. Her ultimate!
'Super Jegal-Jegal Eunbyeol Beam... here!'
Kaboom!!
"...Huh?"
Jeon Eunbyeol tilted her head. Before activation, half the swarm shredded. Sword aura sprayed brown fluids.
Footsteps approached from behind.
"...What are you two doing?"
Emerging Choi Siwoo stared incredulously. Another swing swept sword aura, exploding roaches into chunks.
Plop.
Severed heads and guts landed before them. Even minced, they writhed. Seol Garam and Jeon Eunbyeol clung, screaming.
"Hieeek!"
"Ububububu!"
"...So what the hell are you doing?"