Chapter 644

“-An entity of the dark ocean, you say?”

Istar, who was small enough to fit within Leo’s hand, shifted her gaze upward.

Undine, the ruler of the deep waters.

Holding the status of a great water spirit, she rivaled Istar for the position of the supreme elemental in the current era.

In the beginning, Istar possessed far superior might.

The evaluation of a great spirit’s true capability hinges not merely on personal might but also on the legions they govern.

It was only natural that Istar, having existed through a much vaster stretch of time, commanded a far greater army.

During that bygone era, Istar had utterly laid waste to the domains of Undine.

“-And that is the exact reason we became mortal foes.”

As Laruel wore an expression of deep distaste, Elsi looked on with a bewildered countenance.

“-Whatever drove you to commit such a horrific act?”

“-Could it perhaps have been a contest for total dominance?”

As Istar muttered her response with a conflicted look, Laruel spoke up,

“-You behaved with absolute arrogance, which is the real reason.”

“-Spirit of Brilliance! How can you utter such disgraceful words and tarnish the reputation of the boss-nim…!”

“-If Elsi-nim gives the order, the very spirits who once served under you will reveal absolutely everything, will they not?”

Hearing Laruel’s declaration, Istar fell completely mute.

“-Goodness. The ruler of the deep waters truly has a miserable fate.”

“-Though, that deep-sea entity is ultimately no different from any other spirit anyway.”

Laruel remarked cuttingly.

“-The ruler of the deep waters inflicts misery upon other spirits as well.”

“-Precisely! Boss-nim! That entity is thoroughly wicked!”

Prompted by Laruel’s assertion, Istar began to curry favor.

Ever since she was subdued by Elsi,

Istar had transformed into a complete flatterer around Elsi.

This stemmed from the staggering disparity in raw capability between them, which mattered far more than her seniority as an ancient great spirit.

The Authority of Dominion, a power enabling an elemental to command lower spirits belonging to the identical element.

Yet, Elsi’s Authority of Dominion far eclipsed that of standard elementals.

It was a supreme power exercised not merely over lower-tier spirits of a matching element, but across spirits of every single element in existence.

It even possessed the capacity to wrest lower spirits away from the control of other great spirits.

Having been stripped of her entire army, Istar had no alternative but to flatter Elsi if she wished to survive.

“-The atrocities committed by Undine are beyond description! Our magnificent and exalted boss-nim must bring retribution upon that villainous spirit! I, Istar, the Spirit of Purification, shall serve as your blade to rescue the weeping water spirits from the clutches of that wicked deep-sea entity!”

Istar declared with intense vehemence.

The motivation behind her sudden fervor was quite transparent.

‘If I must go down, we go down together.’

Her own standing was already utterly destroyed.

She had been deprived of her sanctuary and was forced to live under the constant scrutiny of spirits who used to be her inferiors.

The injustice of it stung deeply.

Therefore, the deep-sea elemental, whom she detested above all else in the world, deserved to suffer an identical downfall.

“-To think that a being claiming to be a great spirit of fire would resort to dragging another down with her like a drowning ghost.”

“-Be quiet, you ancient relic.”

Following Istar’s declaration, a wave of chaos erupted from the opposite side.

“-Unband me! I will end her right now! Let me end her!”

“-Such magnificent wrath! Can you not direct that fury toward me instead? Ah… Ah…”

It appeared that Ati was actively restraining Laruel, who was attempting to break free from the area where Leo’s summoned entities had gathered.

‘Elsi.’

“-Understood, Leo.”

‘I must capture that one as well to properly discipline these children.’

“-Mmh… I shall give it my best effort.”

Leo let out a soft breath and turned his attention toward Runba.

“A fire spirit? That is a remarkably distinct appearance.”

Runba displayed a thoroughly baffled expression as he observed the fire elemental resting upon Leo’s palm.

It possessed the dimensions of a minor spirit, no larger than a hand.

Yet, it bore no resemblance to the typical plump-cheeked lower-tier spirits.

This elemental revealed its torso, almost as if deliberately displaying its diminutive yet sharply defined, solid musculature.

‘If the members of “The Power” caught sight of him, they would instantly bellow “You are in!” without a second thought.’

Reclaiming memories of Lumeren’s physical development group, ‘The Power,’ Runba shook his head slightly.

‘Regardless of how unusual his form may be, he remains a spirit brought forth by Leo… meaning I must maintain my defenses…’

“-That presence is…!”

Right at that instant, Undine, who had maintained a completely detached demeanor detached from his thoughts, responded with sharp intensity.

‘What? Undine-nim?’

RUUUUU-MBL-E-!

The violent currents of water spinning around Runba began to gather toward a single center, and a beautiful young woman manifested.

An upper torso possessing pale ivory skin paired with the lower body of a sea creature.

She bore a striking resemblance to the mythical sirens of seafaring tales.

“What has prompted you to manifest here directly?”

Runba inquired, his voice carrying a hint of agitation.

In response to Runba’s query, Undine allowed the edges of her lips to curve upward.

“Because a bitter rival deserving of punishment stands directly before my eyes.”

SPLAAASH-!

Extending her arm, Undine manifested a three-pronged spear forged entirely from water.

THUD-!

Grasping the weapon in a single hand, Undine pointed it directly at Leo.

“Are you the celebrated Leo Flobruta?”

“And are you Undine, the ruler of the deep waters?”

Leo offered a light laugh and shifted his gaze toward Runba.

“I was entirely unaware that you shared a covenant with Runba sunbae?”

In truth, it caught Leo off guard that Runba was capable of summoning a great elemental of the water attribute.

Had Runba established a lasting bond with Undine, such information would undoubtedly have spread across the land long ago.

Hearing Leo’s remark, Undine let out a derisive snort.

“Hmph. Runba Tes and my person share no binding covenant. He rendered assistance to me on a past occasion. To settle that outstanding matter, I merely gave my word to aid Runba Tes on a single occasion.”

“A passing agreement, then?”

“Precisely, your comprehension is swift.”

Undine allowed her lips to curve upward once more.

“With that in mind, I shall offer a word of counsel, Leo Flov.”

CRASH-

The surrounding torrents of water shifted to construct a majestic seat.

Settling upon the watery throne, Undine spoke,

“Your wisest course of action would be to sever your bond with that degraded great spirit of fire.”

Undine narrowed her eyelids, fixing her gaze upon Istar.

“For some undisclosed reason, that wretched spirit was stripped of her sanctuary a short while ago. How utterly pathetic. That was a feat I ought to have accomplished myself. I suppose it represents cosmic justice for the injuries she inflicted upon me in the distant past.”

Undine made no effort to hide her mockery of Istar.

“That degraded great spirit must have been deprived of her domain and sought safety under your protection. However, that agreement is fundamentally compromised.”

“A compromised agreement?”

“Indeed. The mere act of aligning yourself with Istar signifies that you have chosen to oppose me, the sovereign of the deep waters.”

“Would the situation alter if I nullify the bond?”

“It would indeed. Furthermore, I, Undine, view your capabilities with immense appreciation. I am fully aware that you command the covenants of the three legendary phantom beasts. Therefore, I present a proposition.”

“A proposition?”

“Yes. Void your agreements with those phantom beasts as well. Should you do so, I shall grant you the privilege of pledging your service to me, the sovereign of the deep waters.”

Seated atop her throne, Undine let her lips curl into a smirk.

“The fact that you have bound yourself to alternate spirits and phantom beasts displeases me… but for a summoner of your exceptional caliber, I suppose I can overlook the offense.”

SPLAAASH-

The throne of water beneath Undine surged upward into the air.

Constructing a towering column of water, Undine gazed downward at Leo and declared,

“This is under no circumstances a disadvantageous path for you. I, Undine, am truly the sovereign of the seas. Aligning with me means you shall likewise claim dominion over the wide oceans. Furthermore, I have never entered a covenant with any mortal until this day. This ensures that the mightiest great spirit shall walk beside you. It will unquestionably serve as a powerful asset on the journey you walk. What choice do you mean to make?”

“-That creature is absurdly arrogant! Leo! Chick! Render him into cooked seafood!”

“-Chirp! Chirp!”

“-Attempting to rob me of Master’s firm touch! This cannot be condoned! I shall incinerate you with lightning!”

An agitated Kirian, Fiona, and Ati erupted in furious protests.

As a consequence of their outbursts, Leo felt a sharp ache forming in his temple.

“-Quiet down, everyone.”

Upon hearing Elsi’s serene voice, the three phantom beasts immediately fell silent.

“-Boss-nim! Observe! The utter madness filtering from that arrogant creature! We absolutely must provide a stern lesson!”

“-Did you fail to hear Elsi-nim instructing you to remain silent!”

“-Squawk!”

Laruel, having manifested a tear in space to emerge, surged forward with extreme velocity and delivered a powerful flying strike to Istar’s chest.

“The Spirit of Brilliance?”

Undine’s expression shifted violently.

Observing Undine’s astonishment, Laruel folded her arms and let out a snort.

“-You have not altered in the slightest, have you?”

“Are you likewise bound to Leo Flov? Hahaha! You carried yourself with such supreme arrogance, only to end up sharing a master? How utterly humiliating! Spirit of Brilliance!”

“-I have grown weary of listening to that phrase. This creature has already voiced everything.”

Laruel pinned Istar’s head firmly beneath her foot as it rested on the ground.

“Well then. I believe I must engage in a dialogue with you.”

“What did you just utter?”

Leo opened his fingers wide and aimed his hand squarely at Undine.

BZZZZZZT! BEAM-! BOOOOOOM-!

A brilliant torrent of light bursting from Leo’s palm struck Undine, sending her flying backward.

Leo, channeling the immense capability of Laruel, turned back to look at Runba.

“My word~ Truly. A great spirit of light paired with a great spirit of fire. I was always told that great elementals despise summoners who collect multiple bonds! That must have been entirely false as well!”

Runba reached up to scratch the side of his head.

Leo beamed as he faced Runba.

“They genuinely dislike it, you know.”

“In that case, by what means did you secure their contracts?”

“Could it simply be that I possess an irresistible charm?”

“Haha.”

Runba gave way to a hearty laugh.

“Well, it functions in my favor, does it not? My initial intent was merely to request forces from the ruler of the deep waters. Since the sovereign herself has manifested in person… I ought to be capable of delaying you until the rest are fully prepared.”

“Do you truly believe delaying the conflict will alter the outcome?”

“I have no intention of falling for a simple taunt like that.”

Runba offered a subtle grin.

“I will put forth every effort to match your anticipations. Therefore, feel entirely free to expect a grand performance.”

RUUUUU-MBL-E-!

To the left and right of Runba’s position, colossal portals constructed from pure water manifested.

The massive barriers parted, and water elementals began pouring out from within them.

These were the martial forces belonging to Undine’s domain.

The legion of the deep-sea sovereign, universally acknowledged as the most formidable army among all great spirits.

‘The scale is staggering, far eclipsing what Istar brought to bear.’

An even greater source of astonishment was Runba’s capacity to endlessly bring forth such a massive gathering of spirits.

Furthermore, it was not restricted to mere summoning.

He was actively empowering the elementals utilizing his personal spiritual reserves.

‘Is this the true reflection of the individual ranked second in power within the 5th grade, trailing only Elena?’

Additionally, a distinct shift had occurred within his gaze.

Leo allowed his lips to curve into a sharp smile.

‘I am eager to test my strength against them, however…’

It remained certain that Undine, who had been thrown back by the blast, would return to launch an assault momentarily.

“Elsi.”

Prompted by Leo’s command, his shadow began to expand to massive proportions.

And from the shifting darkness, fire elementals began to manifest.

Runba adopted an expression of deep confusion upon witnessing the phenomenon.

‘The technique utilized for this summoning is remarkably unorthodox?’

Runba remained entirely oblivious to the reality that the entity they served was not a great spirit of fire, but rather the supreme great spirit of shadow.

“-Water elementals, is it…”

“-I anticipated that conflict was inevitable… yet I never envisioned we would take the field under the banner of the Shadow Spirit, rather than the Purification Spirit.”

“-Does this arrangement cause you dissatisfaction?”

“-No, quite the contrary, it is preferable.”

“-Because it presents the perfect stage to demonstrate that the Shadow Spirit reigns supreme.”

The fire elementals displayed fierce grins.

“-…How is it that their fighting spirit burns brighter now than when they marched under my command?”

“-Did I not explicitly counsel both you and the deep-sea sovereign? One must care for their subordinate spirits properly.”

Laruel took deliberate care of the elementals of light, even if she paid little heed to lower spirits of differing attributes.

“-Ancient relic! I am filled with sorrow!”

“-Who are you addressing as an ancient relic!”

Laruel delivered a sharp strike to Istar’s flank.

At last, from the depths of the expanding darkness, the fire spirit Alsia came forward, presenting Elsi with both hands joined respectfully.

“-Elsi-nim, we await your directives.”

Alsia inquired with deep reverence, prompting Elsi to offer a subtle smile.

“-Should any of you find your strength waning, simply seek cover behind my form.”

“-RUUUUU-AH!”

The countenances of the fire elementals erupted into violent, blazing heat.

Turning away from that spectacle, Leo began moving toward the path where Undine had been hurled.

His immediate priority was to subdue Undine before turning his attention to the 5th and 4th grade opponents.

CRASH-BOOOOOOM-!

Right at that moment, a massive wall of water came crashing forward from the distance.

“Leo Floooove! How dare you humiliate me!”

Undine’s enraged scream echoed through the air.

Leo, wearing an entirely unimpressed look, lifted his palm.

SWOOOOOSH-!

Istar erupted into intense motion upon Leo’s hand.

Transforming into brilliant blue flames, Istar rapidly coalesced into the shape of a throwing spear.

“-A spirit technique of this nature truly existed?”

Hearing Istar’s astonished exclamation, Leo let out a soft chuckle.

“It exists, plain as day.”

“-Contractor, does this constitute your unique spirit art?”

“No.”

Leo shifted his body into a classic javelin-throwing posture.

“I am merely replicating the methods of the most powerful spirit wielder.”

ZIP-!

The sapphire lance of blazing energy discharged from Leo’s grip, cutting an arc through the air as it raced directly toward the oncoming wall of water.

BOOOM! SPLAAAAASH-!

A warm downpour began to descend from the heavens above.

Gazing across the environment now blanketed in thick vapor, Leo remarked,

“If they harbor no desire to enter a covenant, I shall simply have to instill that desire within them.”

“-Achieving that will prove no simple task.”

“True. But I have likewise acquired the knowledge of how to sway uncooperative spirits from that very same matchless spirit wielder.”

“-What manner of approach might that be?”

Laruel’s eyes flashed with intense curiosity.

Leo offered a bright laugh in response.

“Physical force.”