Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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Black Despair.
A disaster that brings equal despair to all living beings.
Black scales block the light of the world, and crimson eyes pierce through all things with absolute insight.
The absolute ruler of Paradise, the peace zone tacitly acknowledged by all.
"Shaaah."
At some point, the guardian protecting the Tree of Life blooming in Paradise.
He now bared his hostility toward the group before him.
His size was infinitely small, but the power emanating from him was overwhelmingly immense, like a towering mountain.
It was easy to understand why no one had ever defeated him or reached the Tree of Life.
Gulp.
"Grrrng."
"Hiiing."
"Grrr."
"Kiiing."
"Muuooo."
All trembled in fear before the tiny creature ahead.
The overwhelming presence that made their bodies instinctively quake and muscles tense every time the black scales brushed against the weeds on the ground or those red eyes turned toward them.
[What is it? They look ready to charge any second, so why aren't they coming?]
How could they charge first?
Everyone already present had been utterly overwhelmed by the small imoogi before even fighting it.
[Guh! Don't be scared, everyone!]
But there was one here who could still move.
The only one who didn't submit to that massive presence and raised its claws.
The leader guiding this pack now. A spirit beast just like the one ahead, with gray fur. The wolf spirit beast stepped forward as the representative and swung its forepaw at El.
Pang.
An attack utilizing the wolf spirit beast's characteristic speed.
However.
[Fine. So you're going to fight after all.]
It didn't work on El.
Its claws couldn't pierce the black scales that looked small and fragile.
Crack.
On the contrary, the scales were so hard that cracks formed in its claws.
How tough could those scales possibly be?
[As expected... Black Despair.]
He had some brief experience fighting an imoogi in the past.
But the enemy before him now was far beyond standard, making that past experience irrelevant for this fight.
He was on a completely different level from a normal imoogi.
[You idiot. I said I'd handle it if you just stayed put, but you couldn't hold back and charged anyway.]
[We don't know how long it will take. Time is of the essence for us.]
[Even if that choice costs your lives?]
[Yes. We can't give up.]
So they would fight.
To protect the only paradise untouched by the hands of other transcendent beings.
This wasn't just his decision alone.
Thud. Thud.
Thump. Thump.
Scrape. Scrape.
[What is it? Now the scared ones in the back want to fight too?]
The others gathered here had made the same decision.
Even if it cost their lives, they would break the Black Despair and claim the Tree of Life beyond to protect Paradise.
[Hoo... There are more than one or two hotheaded ones here.]
El clicked his tongue as he shook off his fear and faced the countless glaring eyes.
Seeing that, the wolf spirit beast spotted a slim chance inwardly.
No matter how strong it was, facing this many should be tough.
[Fine. I'm tired of talking anyway, so come at me already.]
With those words, the wolf spirit beast and its numerous followers charged at the Black Despair.
Ah, the more I think about it, the more my head hurts.
What to do with these impatient fools.
Protecting the area we live in? Sure, good intentions.
But the problem is I can't accept the sacrifices to Ceres that come with it.
'If it's about spirits, Silpi would be a big help anyway.'
Just think about our future Spirit King Silpi—what's there to fear?
Compared to the average lower wind spirits we fought before coming here, Silpi's power as a lower spirit is unbelievably strong.
Whoosh. Hwing.
But these guys couldn't wait and are charging in like it's life or death.
Do you think I'd just step aside against those targeting Ceres, like 'Oh, sure, go ahead'?
Of course not. I'd block the way and fight just like this.
Either ending them completely so they never target Ceres again, or crushing them so thoroughly they never even think of fighting again.
Crack.
Slice.
"Krooooh!!"
"Puuooooh!"
"Kuhheoung!"
"Kaaak!"
The gruesome sounds of bones crunching under my tail strikes and flesh tearing along the trajectory echo everywhere.
But don't worry.
There aren't that many dead among those who've retired over there.
[Kuhuk. Heuk.]
Cough.
And that annoying pack leader.
The wolf spirit beast, now soaked in blood and forgetting its original fur color, kept its eyes locked on me despite gasping for breath.
Normally, more would be writhing on the ground by now, but it kept interfering, reducing the damage below expectations.
Of course, it paid the price with heavy wounds itself.
[What a boring fight.]
[Kuhuk. Heuk. Hek.]
[You and the ones behind you have no chance of winning.]
Yeah, if this had been before meeting the Dragon King and his daughter, maybe.
But after gaining experience from them, this many aren't a real threat anymore.
'Easier than I thought. Surprising.'
I hadn't expected it to be this easy.
That fight with the Dragon King and his daughter must have impacted me greatly.
[Black... Kuhuk. Des... pair.]
[Turn back now, and I'll let it slide.]
[We... can't.]
[If you charge again, I won't hold back. I'll kill you all.]
[......]
So please, just go back.
Honestly, it knows too.
With their current forces, they can't beat me.
Yet it's still fighting—for their cause? Revenge for fallen comrades? Or just stubbornness?
Whatever it is, they won't get what they want.
Harsh, but that's reality.
"Grrrror."
"Kyaooh!"
"Kurrr."
"Puuooo!"
[They're practically begging to die by my hand. What choice will you make?]
Planning to let them all die like this?
[...Despairing.]
The one who had steadied its breathing and closed its eyes.
I worried for a second it might keep fighting, but thankfully, it was more rational than I thought.
[We'll retreat.]
[Wise choice.]
[I know it's shameless to defy you like this and still ask a favor... but I have one.]
[What?]
Eh, I can guess what it'll be.
[Can you help the Tree of Life protect this Paradise?]
[What a shameless request.]
They were just fighting to kill Ceres and take its power, and now after losing, they want me to protect Paradise with Ceres's power?
But even so, I didn't rebuff it harshly.
I was going to ask Ceres to do it anyway, even without them saying it.
[Don't worry. I don't want this place falling into others' hands either.]
Nine out of ten reasons this place is so peaceful is because it's a neutral zone untouched by spirits and such.
I'm in the same boat wanting to protect it.
Of course, not by sacrificing Ceres like they wanted.
I'll handle it with minimal harm to Ceres.
[Don't bother me again. Tell the others too. My patience is wearing thin.]
[...Understood.]
Of course, that's a lie.
They're all easy for me to handle, and frequent visits are just a minor annoyance—no real limit to my patience.
I just said it hoping fewer would come.
If it works, great; if not, same as usual—no issue.
Incidentally, this bluff leads to a dramatic drop in future visitors.
Of course, along with my "Black Despair" nickname spreading widely.
Shhh.
Anyway, that's a story for much later.
For now, after ending the fight early by convincing them to leave, I head back to Ceres not knowing that yet.
[Back. Cer... es?]
I returned to Ceres sooner than expected since I talked them down well.
But upon arriving, I'm stunned by the changes before my eyes.
[What in the world happened?]
I didn't think much time had passed.
For it to change this much in that short time?
I knew Ceres grew fast already.
With the nutrients added, even faster, sure... but...
[...You can even speak now.]
I hadn't expected such a massive change.
Ceres, already a giant tree, had grown so much it stood out even from afar.
From the sky, it'd be unmistakably prominent.
'And its vitality has surged too.'
Just the life force flowing around matches what I used to empower Cheong last time.
And the biggest surprise: Ceres can now properly convey its will.