161. Abyss Lord
The realm of undead spirits, the Abyss. A Solorb had made its appearance in this world.
It hadn't descended with a physical body. Only a fragment of its consciousness-laden soul had crossed over. That was why the Solorb took not the form of the sun, but the cat shape it favored for manifesting in its inner world. And even in this current form, it was more than sufficient to drive away the darkness of the Abyss. Though it couldn't bring its body, its soul alone could wield its innate power in full.
The Hedgehog Summoner God tilted its head at the approaching Solorb.
Duumba? Who's this cute little kitty-yot?
It's Solorb-ong.
Duumba?!
Hearing the reply, the Hedgehog jolted in surprise, bouncing its rear twice.
Take back what I said about cute and adorable-yot. Sorry-yot.
……
Solorb wasn't offended. If anything, being called cute secretly pleased it.
Didn't know you could show up like this-yot. So why haven't you come play with us until now-yot?
I can only manifest here with my soul alone. Manifesting inside the Ancient Labyrinth is still impossible... More importantly, explain what's going on here.
Solorb said this while glancing at the SS-grade spirits ahead. The SS-grade spirits hurriedly averted their gazes. They fidgeted restlessly, heads bowed as if guilty of some crime. It was only natural. The cat before them was a being on another level entirely, comparable to the Spirit King who ruled the Abyss. They instinctively sensed the vast gap between Solorb and themselves.
What the hell is that thing?
Why'd it suddenly show up here?
It's chatting so casually with the Hedgehog Summoner... are they close?
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through the spirits' minds as they stole glances at Solorb.
While the spirits watched Solorb warily, the Hedgehog explained everything from the beginning—what this world was like, and all that had happened to it. As it spoke, its round eyes grew misty, brimming with pent-up grievance.
The SS-grade spirits kept their mouths firmly shut, crushed by Solorb's overwhelming presence. They could only swallow hard and sneak peeks, too paralyzed to act.
……
Having heard the full story, anger flickered across Solorb's face.
Solorb had recently taken a liking to a few creatures second only to cats—and the Hedgehog Summoner God was one of them. The reason was simple. It was small and cute. Everything it did was cute. That was all.
To toy with such a Hedgehog and try to kill it? Utterly unforgivable.
A surge of impulse rose to incinerate the souls of those spirits right then and there. Solorb barely suppressed its rage before speaking.
Phew... So, to form a lord-vassal contract, you have to beat those guys, right? Definitely impossible for a weakling like you.
Right-yot! How am I supposed to beat those ridiculous spirits-yot!
Solorb nodded. Then it murmured lowly.
Worry not. I'll fight in your place.
Duumba?!
I'll subdue all those spirits for you. And force the contract on them.
At Solorb's following words, one SS-grade spirit, who'd been gauging the mood, panicked and shouted.
T-That's ridiculous...! That's cheating!
Solorb's eyebrow twitched at the spirit's cry.
What did you just say? Cheating?
It was absurd. For these fools who'd imposed such an impossible condition on a small, fragile Hedgehog to utter the word cheating from their mouths.
Deeply irritated, Solorb extended its small, plump front paw.
Interference by a third party in a sacred contract is not permit—
Die first, you.
Intense sunlight engulfed one SS-grade spirit's body.
Consumed by the light before it could finish speaking, the spirit vanished without a trace in an instant.
Witnessing this, the other SS-grade spirits flinched, instantly adopting groveling attitudes.
...Just to avoid any misunderstanding, that dead guy's words have nothing to do with us.
Exactly...! Cheating was just his personal opinion! I don't think you fighting in their place is cheating at all!
A-Actually, we were throwing a surprise party for the Hedgehog Summoner. We were just teasing a bit before revealing it was a joke and making the contract.
You, the last one who spoke—die.
Solorb erased another spirit.
It disliked the blatant lie.
The rest of you have to contract with our Hedgehog, so I'll just scorch you enough not to kill.
Come at me.
Though it said so, no one charged. The SS-grade spirits only eyed each other cautiously.
Eventually, one stepped forward timidly, speaking in a trembling voice.
Um... we'll just surrender and contract with the Hedgehog Summoner right away...
Duumbaaaah!!!
From this moment on, the SS-grade spirits were eternally bound to the Hedgehog Summoner God.
The summoner and summoned had formed a lord-vassal contract.
Finishing the contract, the Hedgehog bounced its rear seven times and looked down at its body. No changes.
Duumba? Why's my body the same-yot? Didn't it say I'd evolve after contracting-yot? Did I fail to evolve-yot? Or does my body not change even after-yot?
A barrage of questions from the Hedgehog. One SS-grade spirit bowed low and explained.
It's neither a failure nor a lack of change. Your body in the original world is gradually transforming right now, sir.
As the spirit said, the Hedgehog's body was slowly reconstructing inside its egg.
Duumba! Got it-yot! Thanks for the kind explanation-yot! But no formal speech with me-yot! Don't call me sir-yot!
Pardon? Then what should we call you... er, what should we call you...?
Call me whatever you want, casually-yot! We're friends from now on-yot!
The Hedgehog bounced its rear three times. Then it summoned all the spirits before it—not just the newly contracted SS-grades, but even the existing S-grades.
Duumba! To celebrate becoming friends, we're all dancing the Duumba Dance together-yot!
The Hedgehog bounced its rear. The S-grade spirits followed, shaking theirs side to side. The SS-grades hesitated briefly, but at
Dance now-yot!!!
the Hedgehog's command, they teared up, faces full of shame, and began shaking their rears.
Duumba. Duumba. Duumba, duumba!
Solorb watched the scene fondly. Then,
……
for a split second, Solorb's expression twisted. Hackles raised across its body, it whipped its head to glare fiercely in one direction.
Something ominous was approaching.
...A dangerous one is heading this way.
Nyaong?
Meow?
Duumba, duumba... duumba? Dangerous guy-yot?
All of you, fall back behind me. This is beyond what you can handle.
Melody, Bastet, and the Hedgehog hurriedly retreated behind Solorb. The massive S-grade and SS-grade spirits followed suit.
Nyaong? Why are you all so naturally hiding behind Solorb-ong?
Even we're scared and uncomfortable with whoever's coming. Every time we meet, it forces us into weird dances—we'd rather avoid it if possible.
You know who's coming-ong?
This aura is definitely the Abyss Lord, absolute ruler of the Abyss.
As the SS-grade spirit finished speaking,
guuuu— an eerie energy surged in. From afar, thick darkness rapidly advanced, reclaiming the world bathed in sunlight.
Along with that darkness came a humanoid figure, sliding through the air in a lotus position.
When it arrived, light and darkness split precisely in two, facing each other. One side darkness, the other light—like a massive boundary line drawn.
It halted in midair, carefully prodding Solorb's light with its darkness, and spoke.
Two most esteemed guests have graced this humble place.
The lord of the innermost Abyss, managing all abyssal realms at the dimension's bedrock. King of the undead spirits.
By Kang Geon's standards of danger, it was an SSS-grade existence.
Pleased to meet you. I am the Abyss Lord, running a dance academy in the Abyss. Ah, I'm not here to fight you, so no need to be so wary.
So please, sheath your killing intent.
The Abyss Lord said this to Solorb, then turned its attention to the Hedgehog Summoner God behind it.
Truth be told, the reason it had come here was to meet the Hedgehog Summoner God.
Hedgehog Summoner God, I, the Abyss's steward, have come personally to see you. I was ready to restore your soul if it had been destroyed, but fortunately, you're still alive.
Meow?
You two know each other-ong?
As if.
Duumba? You came to see me-yot?
The Hedgehog peeked out and asked. The Abyss Lord nodded slightly.
While honing its dances alone, it had sensed an aura of beautiful, artistic dance that stirred the soul. It quickly pinpointed the source and borrowed a spirit's eyes there for a view.
The Hedgehog Summoner God was dancing.
It was the ultimate evasion technique the Hedgehog had developed through independent research, based on its species' innate evasion: the Duumba Dance.
Of course, it was a dance it'd seen before. Similar to the butt dances some Abyss spirits did.
But the soul infused in it was worlds apart. The Hedgehog's dance was on another level. It brimmed with the heartfelt passion of one who loved dance. It made souls tremble—to put it bluntly, it was so beautiful, seductive, unique, and artistic that it felt like soul-orgasmic ecstasy.
At least, to the Abyss Lord.
If it's not too rude, might I... no, might I, esteemed teacher, witness your dance here and now?
The supreme being of the Abyss bowed politely and courteously to a far inferior existence, making its request.