Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Queen of Fire
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A monster roars from beyond the distant gate.
Dabi, fresh from a fierce battle, turns to me with a grin. He raises his cracked sword and charges toward the monster.
No. Don't go.
I try to move my body, heavy as a waterlogged sponge, but it's no use.
By then, Dabi is already dead.
The monster with its multiple heads greedily tears into Dabi's corpse and turns its gaze toward me.
"Ugh... Hmm?"
That's when I woke up.
What the hell kind of nightmare was that!
If it's a dream, shouldn't it twist real events? Why show me exactly what happened and fuck with me like that?
But where am I? Everything in front of me is bright blue...
Ah, the sea.
A vast ocean stretches out before me, and I'm plummeting toward its center at tremendous speed.
I didn't panic at all.
"Uwaaaaaaaaah!"
Just before hitting the water, I activate flight magic and soar back into the sky.
Phew.
Good. As long as no one saw that. If I'd crashed into the surface just now, I might've died on impact. I was flying really high.
Then I dozed off.
If I'd been using flight magic purely with my own mind, I wouldn't have nodded off and fallen like this.
But this time, for testing purposes, I cast the spell using only the lich's soul crystal, without relying on my head at all.
"Thanks to that, I ended up having a weird dream while dozing..."
Of all things, dreaming about a terrifying otherworld monster.
One of the worst monsters that emerged during the 4th Wave.
Chimera.
That's just what we named it—nothing like the classic chimeras I knew before.
Its body resembles a lion, with huge wings on its back—similar so far...
The problem is the heads.
Dozens of beast heads sprout grotesquely from where heads should be. Isn't the standard three big ones?
They're even biting and devouring each other... and the torn-off heads regenerate.
Add to that the deadly poison spewed by certain heads, and the bizarre roar that shatters eardrums of everyone nearby.
No way that thing was born naturally.
If some mad scientist created it artificially, lock them in a dark room without a drop of water until they starve!
Anyway, trying to take down just one burned down the whole barn, cost countless subordinates their lives, and we barely got one—only for five more to pop out right after. Feels like it was yesterday.
Why?
Because it all happened in the immediately previous 9th regression.
We failed to properly deal with the remaining chimeras and got swept away by the otherworld army that poured in alongside, losing everything.
"I'm sick of being the only one left running away..."
Even if this is the last time, losing cherished subordinates and comrades never gets easier, no matter how many repeats.
"So this time, let's get stronger faster. The enemies are starting new tricks too... Ehehehehe! What the hell am I doing?"
Flying over the endless ocean for so long, I'm talking to myself. Bad sign—need to change my mindset quick.
This is about 400 km south of the empire, smack in the middle of the sea.
Why fly here? Because my target spirit lives on a volcanic island far from the continent.
Ignis, the Fire Spirit King.
Known as the 'Queen of Fire,' a lofty being I first contracted with in the 9th regression— notoriously picky.
But success is a jackpot.
She was why I broke through the 4th Wave for the first time in the 9th.
The queen juggles Tempest-grade fireballs like toys and hurls them wildly. Position them ahead at gate opening spots, and incoming enemies get incinerated in an instant.
But before contracting the Fire Spirit King, there's a prior issue to settle.
"Lukkar? Not summoning you yet, but let's talk. Hear me?"
Lukkar's voice soon resonates in my head.
-I hear you, contractor. What do you want to discuss?
"Spirit possession."
-Spirit possession?
"Why didn't you mention spirit possession even once in all that time?"
That's the question filling my mind.
"I've contracted so many spirits including you... Anyway, we've been contracted a while, right? Why not bring up spirit possession once?"
Before leaving the mansion, I first learned about spirit possession from Meredes.
Does this make sense?
After countless regressions and contracts with tons of spirits.
Not one ever mentioned possession to me!
-Because it would be meaningless.
"What?"
Meredes demonstrated in the front yard: possessing her spirit, no magic armor, and effortlessly toying with Linen—who wore mid-grade magic armor—using knight-level moves.
And it's meaningless?
Power beyond magic armor without wearing it?
This could completely change future battles!
-Possessing with me now would kill you.
"Huh? Kill me?"
-Yes. You'd die. Especially at our first contract—your body was the worst. It would've shattered at a fingertip touch.
"Well, yeah, poked by your finger, anyone like me would break easy."
-That's why I didn't mention it. Spirit possession burdens the contractor's body heavily. Destroys muscles, stops the heart.
"But Meredes did it easily?"
-Because the target was my loyal subordinate, a pebble spirit. Its power is far below mine. And that woman's body is the opposite of yours. If yours was the worst baseline for a human, hers is the strongest.
"True..."
-Plus, she secured even greater bodily stability through intense training. That's how she handled pebble possession flawlessly.
"Hmm... I trained pretty hard too."
-Your training and hers are leagues apart.
"No, but my body's gotten way better, right? Especially after eating the core—it's like being reborn."
-Of course.
Lukkar pauses a few seconds before continuing.
-Now, you could withstand possession with me for 20, no, 30 seconds without dying.
"See! So why not tell me..."
-But you'd die after. Once possession ends.
"...So I die anyway."
-Still, lasting 30 seconds without dying is huge progress. At contract time, you'd have died in under a second.
Same result—death. No way to possess without dying?
"Then 15 seconds, no, 10 seconds?"
-You wouldn't die. But you'd suffer agony equivalent to death for days.
"If I don't die, that's fine. But 10 seconds is too short. Any way to possess longer without dying?"
Knight power without magic armor is an insane merit.
Magic armor is insanely heavy itself.
Over half your boosted athleticism goes to just moving under that weight.
Sure, it provides knights powerful defense...
-The solution is simple. Train your body more. To her level. No, beyond.
"Beyond Meredes? That's 'simple,' huh."
Simple enough to curse about. She cleaved a Knight Commander in half this time.
-Anyway, is that answered? That's why I didn't tell you about spirit possession.
"Sigh..."
No wonder countless past spirits never mentioned it.
My body was always wrecked back then.
At least in the 5th regression, I trained hard—but that was when I wasn't using spirit magic. Bad timing.
"Anyway, I had no clue."
-Knowing would be weirder. Unless we tell you first.
"You spirits keep your mouths shut, fine... But I scoured every record on spirit magic. Not a single line on possession."
-Naturally. Humans seeking spirit contracts train mind over body.
Uh...
Yeah, thinking about it.
Most spirit-interested folks were magic-obsessed nerds. Why would a hardcore-training knight roam seeking spirits?
"So how strong do I need to be for you? 'Meredes level' is vague. At least Knight Expert? Knight Commander?"
-I don't know human ranks well. But possession requires different key abilities per spirit.
"For example?"
-Earth spirits like me, rock spirits, need strength.
"Strength?"
-Yes. Greater pure muscle power means longer possession without dying. Fewer aftereffects too.
Strength, huh.
Linen would handle that well. Kid's got insane strength for his age.
"But I'm weakest at strength... What about fire spirits?"
-Fire spirits need mana.
"Mana? Hey, hey, hold up."
Saying that like it's nothing?
Then all the fire spirits I've contracted so far—what about them?
Even with my Arch Wizard-level mana, they never breathed a word!
"Uh... So possessing with fire spirits is fine for me? My mana's super strong."
-It's just the key factor. Without supporting strength, speed, endurance, stamina, etc., it's meaningless.
Tch, that's how it is?
"For example... Yeah. How strong for Fire Queen possession? My mana's top-tier, so maybe cover other areas?"
-Fire Queen?
"Yeah. Fire Queen."
-You mean Fire Spirit King Ignis?
"Right. Heading to contract her now."
-Pfft.
Huh?
Pfft? Did this guy just pfft?
"Hello? Lukkar? Did you just laugh at me?"
-Pfft... Hmm? Is this laughing? First time since I existed. It was that ridiculous.
Look at this bastard. Mocking like a pro.
-I don't know how you plan to contract her, but even if you do, never possess with her.
"Why? Key for fire spirits is mana, right?"
-Key or not, listen. Possess with her, and you'll turn to ash instantly. Gone so fast, everyone forgets you existed.
Scary phrasing. I feel a chill down my spine and nod.
"Got it. Honest advice, even if it stings."
-Good call. So you're heading to the Fire Summit? Volcanic island heart?
"Yeah. Records say the Fire Queen lives there."
-Question how that record-keeper survived.
Because no such human exists?
-Possession isn't the issue now. Attempting contract is suicide. Contractor, turn back?
Tension in Lukkar's voice. Makes sense—he'd worry.
Contracting a Spirit King.
Even after years of prep and reaching the island fully ready, success isn't guaranteed.
But I have a decisive edge.
Two main ways to contract Spirit Kings.
First: Contract a subordinate spirit, get its recommendation, meet the king.
That's standard. The king gives a special mission; complete it for contract.
Sounds simple, but...
In 9th regression, it took a full 4 years via this route.
Time to befriend subordinate.
Time for recommendation.
Mission takes time and life-risk.
Then why not Earth Spirit King, upgraded Lukkar-like rock spirit?
Impossible.
Rock spirits like Lukkar are easiest; Earth King gives brutally impossible missions.
Never contracted one ever.
Fire Spirit King's mission? Doable challenge, barely.
Not easy—half-expect to die.
And no subordinate to bridge yet.
So how?
Second method.
Battle.
Simple: Win a fight, contract possible!
Insane, sure.
Precisely, pass the king's test—same thing.
Fight starts, Tempest fireballs rain, you're ash.
Never considered it...
But this time's different!
Idea from Tolari gives solid odds.
-And you don't know: Contracting kings requires recommendation from us lower spirits.
"Yeah, I know."
-You know? Then why? Barging in just pisses her off.
"Don't worry. Got a plan. Hey, Lukkar? Can you move something ice, about 10 meters diameter?"
-Ice?
"Yeah. Ice or whatever—big lump... Remember that monster from days ago?"
-Flesh lump? The one you called Infection Lord?
"Roughly that size. Can you push and move it?"
-Heavy as hell. How much movement?"
"Just a bit. Tiny nudge."
-Then possible. But why...
Then, islands with rising smoke appear in the distance.
Fiery Archipelago.
Cluster of active volcanoes erupting lava multiple times a year. Target: central island with the largest crater.
Fire Summit.
The massive volcanic island where Spirit King Ignis resides.