Chapter 94
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Spirit Kings' Descent
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Terradium Continent's northwest artery, the Argaron River that nourishes the entire region, suddenly erupted in a towering column of water from its very center, swirling violently.
The spiraling torrent soon took the form of a woman before alighting gracefully on solid ground.
Transforming into a woman clad in a flowing blue dress, Elraim stepped lightly across the water's surface as if it were dry land, finally reaching the shore where she let out a long sigh.
"Phew... It's been ages since I last descended to the mortal realm."
She closed her eyes gently. Focusing her senses, she felt the power of the earth pulsing nearby—the presence of Noahs, the Earth Spirit King who had descended alongside her.
—Elraim. Have you descended?
—Yes.
—Good. Then disperse quickly. Lingering too long without a medium harms the mortal realm.
—Got it. See you later.
The voice faded away. Noahs's power receded into the distance.
‘I should get moving too.’
There was no time to dawdle. She had to locate the new king's soul without delay.
She raised her hand. The river water coalesced, shaping itself into a pack of water wolves.
"My children, lead the way."
Soon, the water wolves bore her across the fields at a gallop.
Ddol Ddoli conducted a brief training session for the newly born flame pebble guardians. Like their counterparts, they were instructed to cultivate strength and forge their own paths—but there was one key difference.
—Fire is a destructive force. Wielding it recklessly can harm innocent lives. Never shoot flames carelessly. Understood?
—Rock!
Ddol Ddoli was deeply cautious of fire's raw destructiveness. Having wielded it himself, no one knew its perils better.
The flame pebble guardians' flames might be feeble for now, but fire was fire all the same.
A single spark could ignite a raging inferno. If these guardians scorched the land, how could he ever face his master?
—Good. Training's over. You're dismissed.
—Rock!
And so, he parted ways with the flame pebble guardians.
It was bittersweet, but he couldn't coddle them forever.
Just as animals eventually send their young into the world, rock guardians had to live independently.
Still, curiosity gnawed at him. What were all those pebble guardians up to?
Thousands had been born and scattered across the world by now. Ddol Ddoli wondered endlessly about their adventures.
Were they wandering the world like him, carving their own journeys? Or had they found worthy masters and settled down?
‘They all take after Ddol Ddoli. If so, they're thriving. We can reunite someday.’
Lost in such reverie as he trudged along, Ddol Ddoli halted abruptly. The air grew noisy.
—What's that?
Ahead lay a cluster of human dwellings—the source of the clamor. Ddol Ddoli scratched his head sheepishly.
‘Ddol Ddoli wandered too far. Didn't mean to venture this deep.’
He usually skirted human territories to avoid trouble.
But deep in thought, he'd strayed right into the heart of one.
—Better turn back. No evil energy here. Not bad humans.
Ddol Ddoli pivoted to leave. Then, a heartrending wail pierced his ears.
"Hic... sob!"
"Darling! Snap out of it! Darling!"
"My... my home...! Sob!"
Humans grieving in anguish—from the houses ahead. Curiosity stirred in Ddol Ddoli. Why such profound sorrow?
Peering closer revealed the cause: the river beside the village had overflowed, engulfing everything in floodwaters.
Houses lay shattered everywhere, and numerous people slumped lifeless amid the wreckage. Humans clutched the fallen, weeping bitterly.
‘Lots of humans died. So pitiful.’
Ddol Ddoli turned away once more. He pitied them but couldn't intervene. How could he even help?
Most humans viewed him as a stranger—many as a monster outright. Best to keep moving.
Thud! Thud!
As he took a step...
A potent force rippled from afar.
—Hmm?
Toward the village. More precisely, the river flanking it. A blue pack surged forward amid churning waves, flanked by earth-molded golems that thundered across the ground, shaking the earth.
Ddol Ddoli scowled. Their water jets and tremors had ravaged the human village, as if it meant nothing to them.
—Finally found you, new king's soul.
They halted before him.
"Greetings, new king's soul."
—Who are you guys?
"I am the Water King, Elraim. I've come to guide you."
—Guide Ddol Ddoli?
"Yes."
Ddol Ddoli's eyes narrowed. He had a hunch who they were. The earthen lumps were unfamiliar, but he'd seen those water wolves before.
And the watery woman resembled that nereid spirit from ages past.
—You're spirits. Right?
"Correct. You knew already."
—If here to drag Ddol Ddoli off again, already said no.
"King's soul... It seems you don't grasp it yet, so I'll explain: this is your duty. Duties can't be refused on a whim."
—Ddol Ddoli doesn't know that stuff. Not going to your spirit realm.
Wary determination flashed in Ddol Ddoli's eyes. Elraim shook her head sadly.
"So immature. Truly too young."
She'd glimpsed it through the nereid's memories, but hadn't expected such bullheadedness.
Even weakened, two kings were unleashing their might—and he endured it head-on, flatly refusing?
"King's soul."
—Ddol Ddoli.
"Right, Ddol Ddoli. Mind if I ask one thing?"
—What.
"Why refuse to follow us?"
—Why should Ddol Ddoli?
"Because the spirit realm is your true home. You're the soul destined to rule it as king."
—Who decided that?
"No one decided. You were simply born that way."
—Wrong. Ddol Ddoli wasn't born that way. Master made Ddol Ddoli. Master is best. You're all mistaken.
Elraim rubbed her temples. No reasoning with him.
"Sigh... Ddol Ddoli, this is troubling. If you don't come to the spirit realm, the world's balance will shatter."
"How frustrating. Chit-chatting like this—when do we even return?"
The low, icy voice belonged to Noahs, cutting in abruptly.
"No need for words. Just carry out the deed—starting with force."
"Absolutely not. Have you lost your mind?"
"If you're too soft, I'll handle it. Perfect timing—my fists were itching."
"Noahs, stop. I'm the guide."
"The best cure for an insolent junior is a good thrashing."
"Noahs!"
"Can't you tell? That soul's been corrupted beyond saving. If words fail, it's obvious."
Noahs barreled ahead heedlessly. He clenched his fist; earthen shards swirled around him like a vortex, and the ground quaked fiercely.
The tremors churned the river. Human sobs swelled louder behind them. Ddol Ddoli's expression hardened.
—Feel enemies. Gonna attack?
"Not an attack—an education."
Noahs stomped. The earth split, unleashing explosive force. Ddol Ddoli's eyes sharpened.
—Attacked. Ddol Ddoli deems you enemies.
[Ddol Ddoli uses skill 'Charge']
Ddol Ddoli charged. Propelling forward at blinding speed, he slammed a fist home.
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed as Noahs was hurled back mercilessly.
"Ha. Told you to hold back."
Elraim shook her head. No need for brute force...
"No helping it."
She unleashed her own power. Best to end this swiftly now. Ripples from their descent were already wreaking havoc elsewhere.
Mana blasts rained down relentlessly. Water jets and earthen clumps blurred his vision. Ddol Ddoli hastily erected a rock barrier, then caught his breath.
‘Tough foes.’
He'd grown immensely stronger. Strong enough to defeat that black dragon in a rematch.
Yet even now, he lacked confidence against these two.
‘Ddol Ddoli might have to risk life here.’
Splat!
The barrier shattered. A water cannon blasted through with crushing pressure. Ddol Ddoli leaped aside, evading it. Boom! His prior position exploded.
Debris peppered the air, clouding sight. Piercing the haze, a volley of earthen arrows hurtled toward him. Ddol Ddoli armored his arms in mana.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
The arrows ricocheted harmlessly. Noahs grinned at Ddol Ddoli's immovable stance, his expression almost proud.
"Such potent earth power. You truly are an earth spirit."
—Ddol Ddoli not spirit. Golem. Rock guardian.
"Wrong. That's not your true self. You're an earth spirit—my successor, the next Earth Spirit King. Understand, my heir?"
—Said not spirit.
"Deny it all you want; your essence endures. Behold."
Noahs pointed aside. There, a tiny pebble guardian identical to Ddol Ddoli cowered in a corner, peeking out.
A fresh hatchling, by the look.
"Earth power radiates fiercely from that little one. Undeniable child of the earth. Know what that implies?"
—...
"You birthed a spirit—an earth spirit. Proof you're the king. Only a king can spawn spirits."
—Wrong. That's no spirit. Pebble guardian. Mini Ddol Ddoli.
Noahs clicked his tongue. Utterly unreasonable.
What had forged such unyielding stubbornness in this child?
"Doesn't matter. Mortal bonds at best."
The clash dragged on, trading over forty more blows.
No victor yet. But Ddol Ddoli was gradually yielding ground.
A 2-on-1 fight was inherently unfair. Yet he pressed on—he had a gambit.
[Ddol Ddoli has adapted to the pouring earth power.]
[Ddol Ddoli's rock manifestation begins absorbing moist earth essence.]
[Earth essence and mana intermix.]
[Ddol Ddoli realizes a new power.]
After enduring a brutal pummeling, Ddol Ddoli's eyes snapped wide as he rose. His body felt different—once-rigid rock softening.
A yielding dampness pervaded him, hard stone morphing into pliant soil. Weaker now?
No. Soil was essence itself—embracing all, softening any assault.
[Ddol Ddoli has adapted to the pouring water power.]
[Ddol Ddoli's rock manifestation begins absorbing moisture.]
[Moisture and mana intermix.]
[Ddol Ddoli realizes a new power.]
[Skill 'Elemental Resonance' activates.]
[Ddol Ddoli transforms into Mud Golem.]
[Acquires special skill matching transformed form.]
[Resonance level exceptionally high!]
[Special skill level increases by one!]
His form shifted. A slick, oozing texture enveloped him. Not unpleasant. He'd traded rigidity for suppleness.
And suppleness brought versatility.
This state allowed shapes once impossible.
[Ddol Ddoli uses special skill 'Form Transformation']
Ddol Ddoli reshaped. His muddy body dissolved then reformed.
Elongated and lithe now. Hands sharpened to spikes. The two Spirit Kings' eyes bulged.
"Hey, Elraim. I'm not hallucinating, right?"
"That's my question. What did we just see?"
"Attribute conversion? Impossible."
"If it were possible, we wouldn't be gaping."
[Ddol Ddoli uses skill 'Charge']
Whoosh!
"Hup!"
Noahs twisted away frantically. Ddol Ddoli's speed was unreal.
‘Absorbed my power?’
Absurd, yet undeniable. He'd assimilated earth and water into mud.
Astonishingly, his power's nature had shifted to match—earth bolstered by dense water essence, laced with faint fire. How?
‘Spirit attribute shifts? Never heard of such a thing.’
Impossible. Like the sun rising westward.
Unless...
Only one being could: the Spirits' God, creator of all elementals.
‘No... could it be? That's why...!’
The realization struck; Noahs instantly reined in his power. Elraim followed suit, though confusion clouded her face.
—Why stop attack? Fight not done.
"We behold the divine incarnation!"
—Huh?
"Forgive this disloyal wretch! How did we fail to recognize?!"
Noahs dropped to his knees. Ddol Ddoli froze at the abrupt shift. Incarnation? What nonsense?
At that very moment...
Ian, anxiously monitoring Ddol Ddoli's notifications, widened his eyes in shock.
"Wh-what?!"
Ever since the Spirit King emblem appeared, he'd watched alerts closely.
A fight had erupted suddenly, leaving him on edge.
But this?
[Earth Spirit King Noahs has lost the will to fight!]
[Ddol Ddoli's combat has ended.]
[Ddol Ddoli's spirit affinity has greatly increased!]
‘What the hell just happened?’
Fighting then abruptly stopping made no sense—and now affinity skyrocketed?
‘Did they witness our Ddol Ddoli's magnificence and fall head over heels?’
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