Chapter 254 – I Should Not Have Said I Was a World Tree Candidate

The Administrator’s Area of the Black Tower.

Boom!

“Aaargh! Aileen-nim! I was wrong.”

The Holy Stone Ice Cube screamed as it was stepped on by Aileen’s foot.

When it was first stepped on by Aileen, it greatly resented the Holy Stone Piercing and the heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, who had betrayed it.

Especially, it felt a great sense of betrayal from the Holy Stone Piercing, which was the same Holy Stone as itself…

Boom!

“Sob sob. Please spare me. I will never betray you in the future!”

Later, it understood them. That dragon was monstrous.

However,

“Hmph! How can I believe the words of a betrayer?”

Aileen did not easily believe the words of the Holy Stone Ice Cube, which already had a record of betrayal.

“Please believe me! It is true!”

“No! Originally, even betrayal is hard the first time, but the second and third times are easy. But you already did that difficult betrayal once. So, you need to be beaten quite severely!”

And,

Press.

She stepped on the Holy Stone Ice Cube even harder. Judging by its attitude, it was ready to make an oath of obedience immediately, but Aileen did not do so.

‘Hmph! How dare you betray our Se-jun?!’ Aileen intended to punish the Holy Stone Ice Cube more before making it swear an oath.

“Aaaack!”

The Holy Stone Ice Cube screamed while being stepped on by Aileen like that.

At that moment,

Zing.

A blue light began to emanate from the Holy Stone Ice Cube that was being stepped on by Aileen. It seemed that the strong pressure had provided the opportunity for evolution.

“Huh?!”

Aileen was flustered looking at that.

“I stepped on it to make it wake up, but it’s evolving?”

Since it was something helpful to Se-jun anyway, Aileen kept stepping on the Holy Stone Ice Cube to assist its evolution.

***

“What?! Do you think I would listen to your…”

Immortal rebelled against Se-jun’s words to summon the Black Skeletons. ‘You are asking for a beating.’

“I cannot do this. Guys, it’s the Te-Kku-Bak Drill Storm!”

Se-jun instructed Theo and Cuengi for a combined attack.

Immortal might truly perish, but there was no choice since he did not listen like this.

“Chairman Park, understood, meow! Cuengi, are you ready, meow?”

Tap.

As Theo answered and placed his front paw on Se-jun’s knees,

Cuengi!

[I am ready!]

Cuengi also answered and placed his front paw on Se-jun’s knees. It was a ritual to join Se-jun in the combined attack.

In that way, the two finished their preparation for the combined attack.

“Then here I go, meow! Nya-nya-nya! Nya-nya-nya!”

Kkueeeeeeeng!

Theo’s Meow Meow Storm Fist and Cuengi Howl merged, and the Te-Kku-Bak Drill Storm flew toward Immortal,

Crunch.

Crushing Immortal’s body so finely that it could not be seen. The change in the surrounding terrain as an aftermath was a bonus.

Seureureuk.

The broken pieces of Immortal’s body gathered and began to regenerate. Fortunately, Immortal’s life was truly persistent, fitting for the name of the Undead King.

However,

“Huff huff huff.”

Immortal was struggling, as if regenerating a body broken like dust was difficult.

He thought he was immune to physical force, but that also seemed useless in the face of extreme physics.

“If dying is your wish, you bastard… Rise! My swords!”

Still, as if he did not want to be hit by the Te-Kku-Bak Drill Storm again, he obediently summoned the Black Skeletons. It was practically no different from surrendering.

And,

Rumble.

“Did you call, Undead King?”

Fifty Black Skeletons broke through the ground according to Immortal’s command.

“Kill that fellow!”

“Yes! According to the King’s command!”

Shring.

At Immortal’s command, the Black Skeletons drew their swords and rushed at Se-jun.

At that moment,

“Cuengi, hold them.”

Se-jun, who had no intention of fighting the Black Skeletons directly, instructed Cuengi.

At that,

Cuengi! Cuengi!

[Understood! I have held them!]

Cuengi stretched his front paws forward and subdued the Black Skeletons so they could not move using telekinesis.

“Make Rain.”

In the meantime, Se-jun sufficiently wet the floor so that electricity would conduct well, and

“Throw Thunder!”

“Throw Thunder!”

When he dropped thunderbolts ten times on the Black Skeletons summoned by Immortal,

Boom! Crash!

[You have defeated the fiftieth sword of Immortal, the Undead King.]

[You have obtained 20,000 EXP.]

The weakest Black Skeleton began to collapse.

“Throw Thunder!”

While increasing experience by defeating Black Skeletons like that,

[The proficiency of Thunder Rain Lv. 3 has been filled, and the level increases.]

The level of the Thunder Rain skill rose.

And,

“Throw Thunder.”

When Se-jun used the leveled-up Throw Thunder,

Boom! Crash!

[The evil-expelling power contained in the thunder purifies the power that opposes providence.]

[The control over Onyx’s soul by Immortal, the Undead King, weakens slightly.]

…

..

.

Chiik.

Along with the message, a bit of black smoke escaped from the bodies of the Black Skeletons struck by the thunder and disappeared. It was because the level of Thunder Rain became 4, adding the evil-expelling power to the skill.

“Huh?”

Seeing the name appearing in the message, only then did Se-jun realize that the Black Skeletons he was attacking were those who had been with him just a moment ago.

And also that his attack was helpful to them. ‘Guys, I will let you rest in peace.’

Se-jun, who had originally intended to fight moderately and leave it to Theo and Cuengi, burned with enthusiasm and used the skill.

“Hey! Summon more! Throw Thunder.”

Thus, Se-jun dropped thunderbolts even more diligently.

Two hours later,

“Huff huff huff. It’s tiring. Let’s rest for a bit.”

Se-jun, who defeated all 50 Black Skeletons and consumed about half of his mana, said while panting.

Compared to the past when he fainted after using ‘Throw Thunder’ three times, it was truly a leap in progress.

Clank.

He temporarily put Immortal in the sub-space warehouse so he could not escape.

Just as Se-jun put Immortal in the sub-space warehouse and was about to have a rest,

Crunch.

Se-jun’s ears heard the sound of something breaking.

“Huh?!”

When Se-jun turned his head toward the source of the sound,

Kkuhehehe.

Cuengi was chewing on the bone of a Black Skeleton.

“Cuengi, who told you to eat something like that?! Spit it out quickly! That’s dirty!”

Se-jun scolded Cuengi severely.

Cuengi… Kkueng…

[I am sorry… I was hungry, so I just tasted it…]

Cuengi was tearful while watching Se-jun’s angry expression.

Although his heart weakened looking at Cuengi, Se-jun did not force his expression to loosen.

Now was the time to be strict. Otherwise, he might eat human bones again later.

“If you are hungry, you should tell dad. Here. Let’s eat some honey. In the future, you must not eat things like that. Got it?”

Se-jun said, giving Cuengi the honey he had taken out when locking up Immortal.

Cuengi! Cuengi!

[Understood! Cuengi was wrong!]

Cuengi, knowing that Se-jun’s anger had subsided, said while rubbing his face against Se-jun’s knees,

Kkuhehehe.

Lick, lick.

And sat on Se-jun’s knees and began to eat the honey.

After a while, when Cuengi finished eating the honey,

“Hey. Summon again.”

He took out Immortal, who had been locked in the sub-space warehouse, and made him summon the Black Skeletons.

“Eek! Do you think I would do as you order…”

Immortal talked back again, as if he had already forgotten the pain from just a moment ago.

However,

“Guys, Te-Kku-Bak…”

“No! I will summon! Rise! My swords!”

In the end, Immortal had to summon the Black Skeletons again. How nice would it have been if he just did it when told the first time.

“Throw Thunder!”

Se-jun obtained experience while defeating the Black Skeletons again.

Boom! Crash!

While Se-jun poured thunderbolts on the Black Skeletons for a long time like that,

Chiik.

[The evil-expelling power contained in the thunder purifies the power that opposes providence.]

[The control of Immortal, the Undead King, over Sith’s soul is completely released.]

[The soul of Sith, who was controlled by Immortal, the Undead King, is liberated.]

Along with the message, a bit of black smoke escaped from the body of the weakest Black Skeleton, and the black bones turned pure white.

The evil-expelling power completely liberated the soul from Immortal’s control.

And,

“Thank you for giving me peace. The only thing I can offer Se-jun-nim is the enlightenment regarding my humble sword. Please accept my enlightenment.”

Knight Sith, whose soul was liberated, left a white light containing his enlightenment for Se-jun and disappeared, turning into pure white powder. He had rested in peace.

Float, float.

As the white light left by Sith approached Se-jun, Se-jun touched the white light.

At that,

[Knight Sith imparts his enlightenment.]

[You have learned Beginner Sword Mastery Lv. 1.]

[The proficiency of Beginner Sword Mastery Lv. 1 has been filled, and the level increases.]

[The proficiency of Beginner Sword Mastery Lv. 2 has been filled, and the level increases.]

…

..

.

[You have mastered Beginner Sword Mastery.]

[You have learned Intermediate Sword Mastery Lv. 1.]

Along with the message, Se-jun instantly obtained Intermediate Sword Mastery Lv. 1. Since he was a knight who had trained with the sword all his life, his enlightenment regarding sword mastery was deep.

“Oh!”

When Se-jun pulled out a dagger, a sensation different from before was felt.

Thanks to this, the reason Se-jun had to let the Black Skeletons rest in peace increased.

“Throw Thunder!”

In that way, Se-jun threw thunder until late at night.

“Ah. It’s exhausting.”

He became completely exhausted as his mana ran out.

Still, in the meantime, he let two more Black Skeletons rest in peace, and his Intermediate Sword Mastery skill reached level 5, and he additionally learned Intermediate Spear Mastery Lv. 1 and Intermediate Shield Mastery Lv. 1.

Immortal, who gave skills along with experience, was a complete honey pot to Se-jun.

“Eek! My swords!!!”

On the other hand, Immortal, who had no choice but to watch the souls resting in peace as they escaped his control, gnashed his teeth at Se-jun.

However,

“Kyu kyu kyu. I’ve come!”

Shooong.

When Iona, who had burned down the 4th floor’s experience farm without leaving a single one, returned, Immortal suddenly became quiet.

Since Immortal was also a wizard, he feared Iona more than Theo or Cuengi, who struck with physical force. Thanks to that, Se-jun was able to spend his time quietly.

***

The 99th floor of the tower.

[Here. Eat quickly.]

Flamie’s root handed a drop of liquid to Podori’s root. Although it was just one drop, the drop contained immense nutrition.

[Um… Flamie-nim…]

Podori hesitated and could not accept the liquid.

[Huh?! Ah. Don’t worry. I am eating much more than what I give to you, Podori.]

Flamie, thinking Podori was hesitating to accept it out of concern for her, reassured Podori.

[Ah… no… it’s not that, I am full.]

[What?!]

Flamie was flustered by Podori’s answer. Did she hear wrong?

However,

[I said I am full.]

Podori mustered the courage to convey her meaning. Since she gave such nutrient-rich liquid all the time, Podori was in a state of indigestion.

Whoosh.

‘You’ve got a full stomach, huh?! I didn’t even have anyone to give me things like this!!!’ Enraged by Podori’s absurd answer, Flamie’s roots began to get hot.

[Um… Flamie-nim, calm down… I will eat! I will eat!]

Startled by Flamie’s fire, Podori hurriedly calmed Flamie down.

[Podori, how can you become a World Tree at this rate? Huh?! Eat quickly! I will make you into a World Tree in the shortest time.]

Flamie spoke as if to tell her to just trust her.

And,

[Yes…]

Podori forcibly absorbed the liquid under Flamie’s coercion.

‘I shouldn’t have said I was a World Tree candidate…’

While harboring belated regret.

***

The next morning.

“Eut-cha!”

Se-jun, who built a mud house using Myler’s hoe, took out the mattress put in the sub-space warehouse, and slept soundly, woke up.

And,

“Guys. Let’s wake up.”

Se-jun woke the animals. To eat breakfast, he had to take out ingredients in the sub-space warehouse, but since he locked up Immortal together, he could not open it alone.

“Meow…”

Cuengi…

Kyu…

Only after waking the animals for ten minutes after getting up like that,

“Puhuhut. Leave it to me, meow!”

Cuengi!

[Cuengi is hungry!]

Was the preparation to open the sub-space warehouse complete.

After eating a simple breakfast like that,

“Throw Thunder.”

He made Immortal summon the Black Skeletons and dropped thunderbolts.

Boom! Crash!

Se-jun dropped a strong thunderbolt by using a lot of mana from the start. Although this would consume mana quickly and exhaust him soon, he had something to rely on this time.

“Kyu kyu kyu. Power of mana, transfer my mana according to my command. Mana Transfer.”

Iona filled Se-jun’s mana by consuming her own mana.

Although it was a fairly inefficient magic with 5% efficiency that filled 5 of the target’s mana by consuming 100 mana, it was perfect for a situation like now.

Such help from Iona allowed Se-jun to use his skills freely without worrying about mana, and

[The proficiency of Thunder Rain Lv. 4 has been filled, and the level increases.]

The level of the Thunder Rain skill rose once more, strengthening the evil-expelling power contained in the thunder, and Immortal’s soul control weakened faster.

Day 356 of being stranded. The morning of the day before the Black Rabbit’s wedding was passing like that.