#115 That Was a Massive Beast
Choi Kang-ho gazed at the three Eternal Crystals from the Demon Realm laid out before him.
"I'm leaving these with you now."
They were the items Kang Jun-seok had entrusted to him—three Eternal Crystals he'd gathered from the Demon Realm.
Clang!
The three Eternal Crystals fused into one.
'Seems like a single mass is limited to six.'
The maximum was six crystals merging into one form.
'This is dangerous.'
Kang-ho decided to process these into equipment as well.
He soon lifted his head and looked off into the distance.
Shaaa—
This was the Demon Realm, right at its heart. Theo Itilurg Gamigin and Bassago stood there with tense expressions.
Hummm—
There was Father. Theo's father was covered head to toe in densely inscribed magic circles. The patterns etched into his sturdy bones flickered with their individual lights, exuding an almost solemn dignity from afar.
Theo and Bassago double-checked the magic circles across Father's entire body, then nodded to each other.
Kang-ho slowly drew out Earth's Eternal Crystal.
'Manpower.'
He understood why the guy was working so hard. Kang-ho could feel Theo's desperate wish to be of help somehow.
Kang-ho walked slowly toward Father.
Father's heart cavity gaped empty.
Kang-ho recalled what Jun-seok had once said.
"One of the Demon Realm's Eternal Crystals was embedded in that guy's father. He must've been a powerhouse who wielded it fully in life."
He placed the activated Earth's Eternal Crystal into Father's heart cavity.
Hummm—
As it settled in, emitting a brilliant blue glow, Bassago made a final check of the magic circle.
Theo carefully infused his mana, activating the magic circle.
Hummmmmmm—!
The mana-amplifying magic circle sprang to life. At the same time, the Eternal Crystal in the heart cavity began trembling with a deep roar.
A colossal power erupted from the heart, surging through Father's entire body. Every bone glowed with a blindingly vivid blue light.
Kwaaaa—!
A storm of immense power raged forth.
At Bassago's shout, Theo nodded. The second magic circle activated—a barrier to contain the power within Father.
The exploding force halted inside Father's body. A chilling tug-of-war ensued.
Theo broke into a cold sweat.
Theo and Bassago bolted behind Kang-ho.
"......"
Kwaaaaang—!
A massive explosion rocked the area. The blast from Father's heart cavity turned everything upside down.
Kang-ho extended a hand, neutralizing the explosion. The twisted earth and the Eternal Crystal's power radiating outward cleared the dark clouds from the sky.
The moment the explosion ended, Theo rushed to his father. But Father stood firm in place.
Theo confirmed the Eternal Crystal was perfectly seated in the heart cavity. The magic circles had fully tamed its power.
Father's body was dyed deep blue, and a rapturously beautiful azure glow emanated from his eyes.
As Father extended an arm, the third magic circle activated, unleashing the amplified Eternal Crystal's power.
Theo clenched his fist and hugged Father tight.
Unknown wildflowers began blooming all around. Proof that Earth's Eternal Crystal's power was fully manifesting.
The barren land was swiftly blanketed in green.
Theo, watching it all, flashed Kang-ho a grin.
For a fleeting moment above Father, the translucent figure of a man shimmered into view before vanishing.
'The father.'
Kang-ho smiled back without thinking. It was a heartwarming sight.
......
Lately, Seol-a had been quite busy.
She was probably the busiest little kid around Cheorwon.
"Oppa."
At Seol-a's call, Furball lifted his head mid-run.
Krreung—
"Pretty."
Seol-a adored Furball's new head.
Thrilled that Seol-a liked it, Furball lolled out his tongue and panted happily.
These days, they often scouted north of Cheorwon.
After running for a good while, Seol-a and Furball reached the Mount Kumgang area.
"!"
The whole place looked like a volcano had erupted—utterly wrecked.
Seol-a blinked, then tilted her head.
Bone fragments were scattered everywhere, and skeleton soldiers were busily clearing the debris.
Seol-a knew these skeletons well. They were like dolls controlled by Mommy—smashing them made that satisfying clatter she loved.
Seol-a hopped off Furball's back and charged, body-slamming a skeleton soldier.
Crack!
The poor skeleton shattered, and Seol-a burst into laughter.
After a solid round of skeleton-smashing fun, they headed for the orchard.
Shaaa—
Johanna greeted Seol-a warmly.
Lately, Johanna had been swamped maintaining the orchard. Harvest time for a massive yield was approaching.
"Yeah!"
Seol-a visited Toon World often these days. She always got stuffed with delicious treats, had tons of friends, and had a blast.
With hands behind her back and tail wagging, Johanna's eyes went wide.
Seol-a, who'd been hoping someone would notice, beamed proudly.
"Awesome!"
Thrilled with her new tail, Seol-a showed off wildly in front of Johanna.
Then she dove expertly into the gate leading to Toon World.
Furball dipped a paw into the gate.
Krreung...
He used to not be able to pass through, but now he could freely. Why? Furball tilted his head repeatedly but followed Seol-a in.
Toon World!
As the massive Furball plummeted from the storybook skies and landed, the fairies all around startled.
But now fairly used to it, they buzzed around him.
Seol-a shivered excitedly, perking up her four tails.
Soon, White Fangs appeared one by one from all directions.
Kiiing—
The White Fangs rubbed against Seol-a and Furball affectionately.
"Look!"
Seol-a showed off her new tail, explaining at length how cool its shimmering colors were and how gorgeously it swished.
The White Fangs sat quietly around her, watching intently.
Krreung—
Krreung—
Furball chuckled amusedly, then stretched out luxuriously.
Toon World was a realm of utter peace! Napping here to his heart's content was his latest joy.
Furball's napping spot was a secluded southern hill in Fairy Tale, far from people.
A gentle warm breeze, sunlight pouring down. Dozing amid the fresh grass scent was pure bliss.
Humming~ Furball padded along, humming, climbed his usual spot, and yawned hugely.
Seol-a would stuff herself at the palace, lose track of time playing—he'd nap, then fetch her later.
Snoooore—
Furball curled up and drifted off.
Rumble—
He awoke to thunder crashing across the sky.
Krreung?
Furball cracked his eyes and peered at the distant sky.
Rumble—
Rumble!
Massive dark clouds gathered with deafening roars.
Rain here wasn't odd, but the lit-up landscape felt eerie.
Shooo—!
Dark clouds surged from everywhere, blackening the area.
Kwaaang! Boom!
As Furball stared, mesmerized, the sky cracked open.
Boom! Kwaaang!
Torrential rain poured, the world plunging into darkness.
But Furball's eyes saw clearly.
Beyond that world!
Through the ripped seam, a ink-wash painting realm unlike any he'd known.
Kwaaang! Boom! Boom!
In that bold-stroke ink world, a being fought.
It was a massive beast. A pure white mist coalesced into form, like white paint on black canvas. Only its two vivid blue eyes left sharp afterimages as it darted unpredictably—resembling a huge, agile tiger from afar.
Its foe was a monster of equal enormity. A grotesque abomination of writhing tentacles and fused beasts clashed fiercely again and again.
Krrreung.....!
Furball had never seen such a creature. Just watching sent chills down his spine, amplifying some deep-buried terror.
Kwaang! Boom!
Each bite shook heaven and earth, unleashing thunderous storms.
Kwajijik!
Soon, the white tiger clamped its jaws on the monster's neck.
With a gruesome sound, the monster fell—but the tiger was wounded too.
Scarlet blood spread across its pristine white body.
Like a drop of red paint on white!
The being plummeted powerless through the air!
Kwaaaa—!
Furball watched it shrink rapidly falling through the rift, oxidizing away like mist, its massive form scattering and dwindling.
Krreung!
Instinct drove Furball to his feet, charging toward it.
Thudthudthudthud!
Reaching it mid-fall, Furball saw a tiny something.
A fist-sized orb of white light, with a small form flickering inside.
Krreung......?
The aura felt familiar; Furball tilted his head unwittingly.
He looked up. Through the long tear, a brilliant full moon shone.
The world beneath that enormous moon was breathtakingly beautiful—yet ominous.
Krreung......
The rift slowly closed, vanishing completely.
Furball lowered his gaze to the white light orb.
It smelled of metal. A refreshing coolness, an inexplicable familiarity.
Furball sat still, staring—then snap! swallowed it.
Krreung?
He sat tilting his head, but nothing happened.
The dark clouds dispersed slowly, clear skies returning.
It had all passed like an illusion in a flash.
Furball sat there puzzling for a while, then turned away.
'Don't eat random stuff you find, got it?'
Kang-ho's words suddenly popped into his head.
Krreung......
Furball resolved to keep this secret from Kang-ho as he hurried off.