Chapter 168

At that moment—

RUMBLEEEEEEE!

[Don’t be ridiculous! You’re just a puppet born from my illusion—how dare you defy me!]

Zarvier shrieked like a man possessed and sent a sandstorm to strike at the illusion of Sung Jinwoo.

[You’re mine!]

KWAOOOOOOH—!

The sandstorm transformed into a massive hand, sweeping in as if to snatch him.

The desperation in its movement was like someone trying to seize a beloved toy from right in front of them.

[Obey and become my puppet!]

But the illusion of Sung Jinwoo floated effortlessly into the air, evading Zarvier’s grasp with ease.

In a calm demeanor, he spoke toward Zarvier.

—Are you sure you can afford this? You won’t have the luxury to worry about me much longer.

[What?]

—My son just started his quest, after all.

His gaze turned toward Suho, who was reading the quest notification at that very moment.

Suho’s eyes scanned the content of the quest.

[Emergency Quest: Prove Your Worth!]

The illusion of the Shadow Monarch, “Sung Jinwoo,” demands proof of worth from his son.

Defeat the Maeryung illusionist “Zarvier” and awaken a new Shadow Authority.

In that instant—

Suho’s eyes lit up with resolve as he shouted,

“Accept!”

Then, without hesitation, he charged toward the sandstorm that was closing in to seize his father.

[Using skill: Storm Slash.]

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!

His dual blades whirled violently, shredding Zarvier’s clawed hand to pieces.

KRAKKA-BOOM!

An astonishing sight unfolded.

The exploded sand coalesced into countless skeletons.

“Don’t tell me all the skeletons up to now…?”

In response to Suho’s realization, Sung Jinwoo gave a nod.

—Yes, that’s right. Even those skeletons are illusions created by him.

Indeed.

The skeletons that had begun to appear suddenly back at Haeundae—

All of them had been illusions conjured by Zarvier.

KII-HEHEHEHEHEHE!

The skeletons, carrying an almost unthinkably tangible presence for illusions, all charged at Suho at once.

[No matter how strong you are, do you think you can win against illusions that spawn endlessly?]

Illusions possessing real physical form.

Truly, it was a fearsome ability befitting a Maeryung illusionist.

However—

Suho looked upon the vicious wave of charging skeletons without a flicker of expression.

“Divine Descent.”

[The soul of pet: Gray descends upon the body of the Priest.]

FWOOOOSH!

With a divine wind, Suho’s hair turned to shimmering silver.

Sung Jinwoo’s eyes flickered with intrigue at the sight.

—Hmm? Don’t tell me…

Remarkable.

The blessing of the Fang of the Beast King, whom he had slain himself, was now resting within his son’s body.

At the same time, Suho’s speed skyrocketed.

[Using skill: Wind of the Plains.]

[Movement speed temporarily increased by 30%.]

[Attack speed temporarily increased by 30%.]

[Ruler’s Authority!]

Suho dropped the swords from his hands, and they shot forward like streaks of light, ripping through the skeletons.

Simultaneously, Suho unleashed a barrage of fierce punches.

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!

Under the relentless assault, the skeletons were crushed and shattered without mercy.

Dozens—hundreds—of skeletons vanished in an instant, leaving not a trace.

No matter how many there were, and no matter how unending they came—

Against Suho, they weren’t even good for buying time.

Yet, watching this unfold, Sung Jinwoo’s brow furrowed slightly.

—Hmm.

Upon closer observation, it wasn’t just the Beast Monarch’s energy emanating from Suho.

He could also sense the Plague Monarch’s aura.

—How did my son end up as the priest of dead Monarchs?

Now that raised some questions.

Sung Jinwoo’s gaze turned toward Beru.

Beru, as if it were the most natural thing, had been faithfully guarding his side from the beginning.

The intensity in his narrowed eyes was fierce.

If he were his original size, it would have been truly reassuring—but in his current small form, he just looked adorable.

Sung Jinwoo let out a soft chuckle and brought his hand once again to Beru’s head.

—Beru, I’ll need to peek into your memories for a moment.

[As you command.]

Beru gladly closed his eyes, feeling his liege’s touch upon his head.

It didn’t take long.

—…So that’s what happened.

After scanning Beru’s memories, Sung Jinwoo tilted his head, visibly dissatisfied.

Then, suddenly, he spread both hands in the air and began to tamper freely with Zarvier’s illusion circle.

FLASH! FLASH-FLASH-FLASH!

Complex illusion circles made of ominous light rose up and began to spin rapidly under his command.

And with that, the sweeping sandstorm started to shift in strange ways, gradually transforming.

[W-What is this?!]

Zarvier panicked in utter confusion.

His perfectly formed illusion circle was warping on its own.

[There’s no way this is possible…!]

No matter how hard he tried, the magic circle that had left his control began to distort into chaos.

To that, Sung Jinwoo offered some comforting words.

—Don’t worry. I’m not trying to destroy your magic. After all, I am just an illusion with barely any mana.

[N-No way…!]

—Rather, I’m trying to refine it for you.

‘That makes even less sense!’

Zarvier was completely stunned.

How could a mere illusion be capable of something like this?!

‘What kind of monster did I summon?!’

Zarvier was now gripped by an unfamiliar terror—one he had never even imagined before.

And indeed, just as he said, Zarvier’s illusion circle was evolving into a more complete and flawless form.

FWOOOSH!

[H-HURK?!]

Zarvier gasped in shock as he suddenly felt his own power being amplified.

The process aside, the result itself was undeniably to his benefit.

[Whatever your true intentions are…]

Zarvier grabbed hold of the power ‘he’ had handed over without hesitation.

Then, glaring down at Suho—and all the Hunters present—he revealed his savage nature without restraint.

[I’ll make good use of this power!]

FLASH!

[Skill: Mirage has leveled up.]

RUMBLEEEEEEE!

The sandstorm intensified.

And along with it, the skeletons born from Mirage grew exponentially stronger.

—Now then, my son.

Watching from above, the illusion of Sung Jinwoo crossed his arms and let a faint smile curl at the corner of his lips.

—Since your dad has set the stage like this, go ahead and bring out every bit of your strength. I’ll take care of the aftermath, so don’t worry.

“…!”

For a moment—

Suho’s eyes widened in surprise.

And even amid the battle, his gaze instinctively turned toward his father.

The aftermath.

He understood what those words truly meant.

Itarim.

The Apostle of Itarim!

Until now, he had been unknowingly holding back his power.

So he wouldn’t become a burden to his father.

So the enemies of his father wouldn’t discover that he was the Shadow Monarch’s descendant.

He had been using his strongest ability—his Shadow Authority—only minimally.

The reason was clear.

He had to.

For his father’s sake.

‘I’m Father’s only weakness.’

And yet now—

That very father—

—Tsk. This kid, just because he’s gotten a little older, thinks he’s grown wise.

Was clicking his tongue at him.

—How old do you think you are, worrying about your parents already?

…As if he could see right through all the worries Suho had carried until now, he was scolding him.

—Suho. My son.

His voice carried a smile that couldn’t hide how adorable and proud he found him.

—Worrying… that’s something parents do for their kids.

He was smiling.

—The ones above are the ones who are supposed to do the worrying.

And the deeper that smile became—

WHOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

Sung Jinwoo’s presence began to engulf the entire area.

—So remember this.

He sternly admonished the son who had been silently worrying for him all this time.

—I’ve never once lived carelessly—not for a single moment. I’m not so weak that I need someone like you to worry about me.

“……”

—So stop wasting time worrying about your father.

At that moment—

Suho felt the weight inside him dissolve completely.

And with it, he understood the true reason why his father had appeared in Zarvier’s illusion.

‘Zarvier’s skill, Mirage.’

An illusion spell that shows the most horrific memory deeply engraved within the target’s mind.

Its most terrifying aspect was its ability to manifest the most fragile, insecure, and vulnerable memories of the subject.

And just as the results now proved—

The trauma that had been suppressing Suho’s heart all this time was about his father.

‘What if I caused trouble for Father…’

‘What if Father got held back because of me…’

‘If I ever became a hostage…’

‘I’m his only weakness…’

All those lingering thoughts had manifested in the form of the illusion of “Father.”

But now—

That very father had granted him permission.

At that moment—

Suho’s eyes changed.

His lips curved upward.

A smile that resembled his father’s.

A face now completely unburdened.

He stopped in place and looked forward.

With eyes as resolute and noble as his father’s.

And he spoke.

“Arise.”

……!

FWOOOOOOOSH!

From beneath Suho’s feet, his shadow soldiers all rose up at once.

Their bodies radiated black smoke as they emerged.

KRAAAAAAAAAHH!

They stood surrounding Suho, emanating fierce killing intent in all directions.

Among them were Quay, Harmakan, and Kira—who had been roaming the country hunting villains.

“Harmakan, create an Instance Dungeon.”

[Yes, my liege.]

FLASH!

At the command, Harmakan raised both arms and cast his spell.

[Instance Dungeon has been created.]

FLASH!

In that instant, a transparent barrier expanded outward from Harmakan’s center.

That massive sphere dragged the entire sandstorm created by Zarvier into a different realm.

Including Zarvier and all the Hunters present.

—How creative. Using an Instance Dungeon to trap an enemy.

Sung Jinwoo nodded with interest, now genuinely intrigued.

On the other hand, Zarvier could only panic.

[Th-This… Is this Kandiaru’s—?!]

Zarvier was horrified upon realizing he had been trapped inside a spell formation far more advanced than his own.

But that wasn’t even the real problem.

A shadowy energy identical to the Shadow Monarch’s was now radiating from Suho.

[H-How could you… No, wait! Could it be that you’re…?!]

“That’s right.”

Suho answered calmly, as if exhaling a long-held breath.

“I am Sung Suho, son of the Shadow Monarch.”

At that moment—

[You have acquired skill: Domain of the Monarch Lv.1.]

FWOOOOOOOM—

Suho’s shadow spread across the entire ground like a wave of darkness.