Chapter 358

Chapter 358
## Chapter 358

The Might of Gluttony (1)

‘The Ultimate Yellow Dragon.’

He recognized that specific designation, along with its context, instantly.

A comparable milestone had previously been granted to him back in Auterica, under the name ‘The Ultimate Gold Dragon’.

‘It appears the system categorized Tam as the Yellow Dragon until this very moment.’

To be exact, the singular capability possessed by that entity had allowed his physical form to encapsulate the core vitality of all Five Dragons simultaneously.

Consequently, upon his demise, that unique title signifying the final survivor of the lineage defaulted directly to Horus.

It was an uncalculated stroke of fortune.

‘I hadn’t anticipated this development whatsoever, given the total absence of prior system alerts…’

While the remaining draconic entities had historically interacted with Horus as though he were the Yellow Dragon, he had merely deduced that the underlying system had not formally validated the status.

Evidently, an entirely separate variable had been at play.

“Regardless, this functions in my favor.”

The achievement did more than simply elevate his total Karma; the intrinsic benefit it unlocked provided immense utility on its own.

Such intrinsic benefits, unlocked exclusively via monumental milestones, were exceptionally scarce and arduous to secure, with every single one matching the utility of an independent unique ability.

‘Let me review… the specific intrinsic benefits currently at my disposal…’

Foremost was the 「Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon」, which he had unlocked following his highly improbable return journey to Earth.

Though it bordered on an unfair advantage, it served as the bedrock for the entirety of his modern operational capabilities.

Its required recycling period had been reduced by half upon his arrival in the alternate realm of Ganghwange, cementing its critical importance.

‘Following that, I possess “Instant Death Immunity”, secured upon ascending as the Immortal King; “Extra Life”, unlocked through the widespread infamy generated by Hans; and “In the Hero’s Footsteps”, attained via the actions of Heinrich…’

The inventory extended further still.

The 「Karma Shop Ver.2 Update」, triggered by his accumulation of an unprecedented surplus of Karma points.

The 「Monarch’s Authority」, granted after he claimed sovereignty as the Vampire King and successfully consolidated the vampire factions of Auterica.

And the 「Dragon’s Lair」, which he had earned upon establishing himself as the Ultimate Gold Dragon.

‘My previous tally stood at seven. With these additions, I now command nine.’

Musing silently, Hans rubbed his lower jaw as a faint, satisfied expression surfaced on his features.

The sheer volume of his accomplishments was staggering.

Every single milestone represented the completion of an immensely grueling and high-stakes endeavor, fully validating their status as monumental feats.

‘A portion of these see constant deployment, whereas others… remain largely dormant.’

He speculated on which path these freshly unlocked attributes would follow.

Partially parting his eyelids, he scrutinized the parameters of the newly granted traits.

The 「Power of Gluttony」.

The terminology made its association with ‘Greed’, the formidable Six-Headed Dragon he had just eradicated, entirely unmistakable.

The operational mechanics were equally unambiguous.

To ingest, assimilate, and convert all external matter into his personal strength.

‘…This seems tailor-made for Harley.’

Though that impression struck him instantly, an intrinsic benefit issued by the system was rarely so narrow in scope.

The overarching framework never provided explicit instructional documentation, meaning the responsibility fell on him to test and unlock its maximum utility through practical application.

‘It ought to yield excellent results for Hugo as well, given his “Heavenly Ki Body” and the massive reserves of unassimilated medicines currently stalled in his system. Furthermore, it will accelerate the development of my remaining physical manifestations… Hold on.’

A sudden realization struck him mid-thought, causing him to freeze.

An entirely unconsidered path of development had just unveiled itself.

‘To ingest and flawlessly assimilate… Supposing I manage to implement this mechanism within my primary physical form residing on Earth…’

Earth remained a desolate realm entirely devoid of supernatural currents.

It possessed no ambient mana, no mystical elements, and no supernatural phenomena.

The solitary exceptions to this rule were the Awakened, individuals explicitly designated by the overarching system that managed the multiverse.

Their internal energy reserves were sustained through obscure system protocols rather than the harvesting of environmental forces.

Yet, they operated under a severe structural constraint.

They were fundamentally incapable of advancing their baseline strength once they returned to Earth.

Their situation mirrored that of flora uprooted from nutrient-rich soil and replanted in an arid wasteland.

‘Naturally, the protective protocols of the system ensure they do not simply wither away.’

They retained full access to their pre-existing operational powers.

They could even refine their operational mastery and, under optimal conditions, trigger structural evolutions within their existing abilities.

However—.

‘That remains insufficient.’

The accelerated development coefficients they benefited from while operating in foreign dimensions vanished entirely.

Deprived of that support, any advancement demanded agonizingly slow and unpredictable effort, fostering a pervasive sense of stagnation and deprivation among them.

Furthermore, the utilization of Karma points became entirely restricted.

‘And those limitations merely scratch the surface of the skills. The primary obstacle remains…’

…the absolute impossibility of harvesting raw energy or elevating their fundamental baseline level while remaining on Earth, a sphere completely insulated from mana.

Regardless of whether an individual specialized in high-tier martial disciplines or esoteric sorcery, their conceptual execution might sharpen, but they remained powerless to shatter the barrier separating them from the succeeding tier of power.

True advancement mandated not merely intellectual breakthroughs, but the tangible backing of environmental energy.

‘This explains the absolute desperation surrounding the acquisition of Dragon Veins within Ganghwange.’

Granted, a marginal probability for transcendence on Earth did exist.

If an individual managed to source an exceptionally potent medicinal treasure from their dimension of origin and ingest it precisely at the apex of an intellectual breakthrough.

‘Even so, the extreme disparity in environmental pressure would cause the vast majority of the released energy to bleed off into nothingness. Should the breakthrough falter, the individual would be left permanently broken.’

Achieving success required a resource on par with a genuine Dragon Heart.

Faced with such odds, it was far more logical to abandon the pursuit rather than squander an irreplaceable treasure.

‘Yet, the “Power of Gluttony” completely bypasses that limitation.’

To ingest and flawlessly assimilate.

This implied an energy conversion efficiency approaching absolute perfection!

Consequently, he could finally initiate the active cultivation of his primary body on Earth, completely bypassing the risk of wasting priceless medicinal resources.

‘I refrained from attempting such measures previously, given my ability to draw upon the energy reserves of my alternate manifestations via “Individual Projection”…’

Nevertheless, expanding his operational parameters was always advantageous.

Particularly when navigating highly volatile contingencies.

‘I must intensify my efforts regarding the acquisition of rare medicines. Harris represents the most logical asset to assign to that pursuit.’

Utilizing Hans or any affiliated unliving entities was out of the question, as their inherent corruption would immediately spoil any natural medicine they approached.

‘Moving on, there is the…”Yellow Dragon’s Orb”.’

This was the specific attribute Horus had inherited upon ascending as the Ultimate Yellow Dragon.

This particular asset, however, presented an entirely different puzzle.

‘…What exactly is this? What is the method of invocation?’

No matter how thoroughly he analyzed the entry, the underlying mechanics remained entirely opaque.

This marked the inaugural occasion where the framework had bestowed an asset completely stripped of technical parameters, leaving him experiencing a rare sensation of genuine perplexity.

Ordinarily, the interface supplied at least rudimentary functional descriptions.

In this instance, the total documentation consisted of…

“Triggers autonomously when the precise conditions align.”

…a solitary, ambiguous declaration.

The divergence from standard protocol was highly unusual.

‘…Tsk, agonizing over it yields no benefits. It amounts to a supplementary attribute regardless.’

It was highly improbable to cause him harm.

The Akasha System maintained a standard of relative equity in its distributions.

…Even if he remained uncertain whether this specific attribute constituted an authentic compensation or materialized via the hidden leverage of an outside force.

Dismissing the thought, he redirected his focus toward the monumental carcass of the dragon resting before him.

A shredded, decomposing mound of flesh, stripped entirely of the majestic aura it once held as a transcendent entity.

“Some measure of… restoration is required.”

The necessity of employing overwhelming destructive force had left the physical form severely compromised.

Had his objectives centered on animating it as a member of the unliving, the structural trauma would be irrelevant, but his current designs demanded a different approach.

Extending his hand to make contact with the remains, he commenced the extraction of the residual necromantic currents contained within—.

‘Oh?’

…His brow twitched upward in sudden astonishment as the energy transferred with an immaculate level of purity and speed that vastly outstripped his calculations.

While he possessed no means to salvage the tissue that had already succumbed to decay, the yield significantly outpaced his initial projections.

‘Evidently, the “Power of Gluttony” exerts its influence over this process as well.’

Operating as a member of the unliving, Hans required no physical sustenance.

The closest functional equivalent involved the direct harvesting of raw energy, precisely as he had just demonstrated.

‘The operational flexibility of this attribute exceeds my original estimations.’

Its sheer capacity to adapt greatly broadened its prospective utility.

An approving nod shifted his features into a gratified expression, right before…

“…What is the meaning of this?”

…His gaze snapped abruptly toward a specific coordinate.

He looked directly toward the perimeter where he had carefully anchored a concealment field prior to the commencement of hostilities.

The precise location where the captured scions known as the Dragon’s Children were currently secured.

‘…Zhuge Hyemi?’

The origin of the anomalous fluctuation was instantly apparent to him.

He identified her specific vital signature without hesitation.

“Hmm, a long-range transmission enchantment? Fascinating execution.”

A calculated curiosity sparked in Hans’s expression as he decoded the nature of her actions.

A highly concealed transmission script, deployed by capitalizing on a microscopic window where his oversight had wavered…

The execution was so incredibly faint that it likely would have evaded his awareness entirely had it not bumped against the boundaries of his anchored concealment field.

‘She is actively drawing upon the internal reserves of Zhu Gang-in to sustain it. She must have engineered a method to secure his compliance… Astonishingly, she has not only deduced the truth regarding the Dragon’s Children within this brief window, but has also unlocked a method to channel her own unawakened potential.’

The deployment of transmission scripts involved immense structural sophistication and rigorous execution, representing a hidden discipline that remained beyond the grasp of standard practitioners.

Even dominant martial organizations deployed them with extreme reluctance, irrespective of their massive tactical worth.

To manifest such a sophisticated enchantment utilizing a newly triggered internal awakening was nothing short of extraordinary.

‘Though rumors labeled her an absolute savant regarding the theoretical principles of the mystic arts, her practical execution surpasses my expectations.’

Zhuge Hyemi, the highly protected daughter of the prominent Zhuge Clan, had passed the vast majority of her existence confined to a sickbed due to her chronic frailty.

Her singular diversion had centered on the exhaustive perusal and deconstruction of esoteric manuals, committing entire libraries to memory and systematically dismantling their logic.

“This development… serves my interests. I can exploit this.”

Hans offered a slow, deliberate nod, his eyelids narrowing as he monitored the delicate thread of energy carefully maneuvering past his concealment field.

He dissolved the tempestuous atmosphere he had generated and secured the remains of Tam.

Though he had already shattered the resistance of Yalu Huan and assumed absolute governance over his military assets, his broader objectives remained unfulfilled.

This operation functioned not merely as a trial run for his conceptual Home Theater, but as a vital phase within his overarching strategy to reconstruct the Dragon Heart.

‘The structural progression of the narrative is vital. Furthermore, it will maximize my overall Karma accumulation.’

He deliberately permitted the thin strand of energy to proceed along its trajectory, its advancement remaining sluggish and hyper-cautious, as though terrified of triggering an alarm.

Ultimately,

Pop—

…It pierced a microscopic breach through the concealment field, establishing a direct link to the external environment.

The connection terminated with Hugo, otherwise known as Ha Seung-hoon, who had been traversing the landscape at extreme velocities utilizing his martial lightness arts and had momentarily paused to recuperate.

At that exact moment, he was actively ingesting rare medicinal compounds, utilizing his freshly integrated 「Power of Gluttony」.

—

Following the total eradication of his immediate targets and the subsequent transfer of their remains to Hans,

Harley recommenced his advance toward the prominent heights of Mount Song, the historical seat of the Shaolin Temple.

‘They would never presume to treat me with disrespect! I provided them salvation! I am curious to observe the status of my primary subordinate within Ganghwange. His operational competence was quite notable.’

The succeeding phase of his strategy demanded the active mobilization of diverse martial factions, and the Shaolin Temple—standing as one of the twin foundational pillars of the orthodox Murim—represented an indispensable asset, prompting his decision to engage them directly.

Despite the devastating structural damage they had sustained during the recent coordinated assault, their historical influence remained a powerful tool.

Kaboom—!

Rumble—

“Eek! An absolute fiend!”

“Aaaagh! What drives you to commit such atrocities?!”

“M-mercy! I support a household…!”

He systematically dismantled the unorthodox factions that actively compromised the stability and order of the Murim landscape along his route.

Ultimately, any chaos that disrupted the framework of his designs directly diminished his projected Karma yields.

Purging the criminal elements whenever an opportunity presented itself was simply sound policy.

‘Furthermore, it provides an excellent secondary stream of revenue.’

Having finalized his localized… civic interventions, he departed from the shattered stronghold with absolute poise, his fingers casually spinning a massive, dark polearm forged from meteoric iron, an exceptionally scarce and prized commodity within Ganghwange.

‘An impressive piece of craftwork. I ought to evaluate the structural methodology implemented during its forging.’

He transferred the polearm directly to Howard, the master artisan of the Dwarf race, utilizing the network of the 「Avatar Cloud」.

Immediately afterward, he materialized a replacement payload consisting of a massive section of flesh, its exterior exhibiting distinct signs of structural degradation and leaking crimson fluids.

“Sniff, sniff, the profile is… intriguing. Reminiscent of… cured proteins.”

The object constituted a segment salvaged from the Six-Headed Dragon he had recently terminated.

Though his overarching intentions required preserving the integrity of the carcass to serve as a fundamental catalyst for restoring the Dragon Heart, he found himself entirely incapable of suppressing the impulse to… evaluate its qualities.

“Hahaha! Precisely! A solitary, minor sampling harms nothing… Hmm, perhaps a broader selection is warranted. A modest piece from alternating sections…”

He recalled an old adage suggesting that flesh achieved its peak flavor profile immediately prior to the onset of absolute spoilage.

He had previously dismissed the concept as utter absurdity, yet…

‘…The visual presentation is remarkably compelling.’

Saliva pooled rapidly in Harley’s maw, his appetite fully stimulated.

His typical preferences leaned heavily toward freshly harvested flesh, but this particular… aged variant… exerted a powerful fascination over him.

Accelerating the structural aging process required a mere fraction of time, achieved simply by positioning the matter within proximity to Hans.

“Let us initiate the evaluation, shall we?”

His features contorted into a massive, terrifying smile as his skeletal structure shifted to hyper-extend his throat.

The unique capability labeled 「Voracity」, which drastically augmented his destructive bite force, triggered instantly.

Concurrently, the parameters of the 「Power of Gluttony」 locked into active status.

Crunch— Crack!

His razor-sharp dental structure tore violently through the muscle tissue, unleashing a torrent of fluids and dark moisture.

A dense, deeply concentrated flavor profile manifested, carrying an underlying note resembling… fermented dairy?

‘This profile is… unexpectedly…’

Right as he was nonchalantly categorizing the sensory data of the flavor,

《The subject satisfies the requisite evolution criteria and advances. The specialized ability “Voracity” has undergone structural ascension, transforming into “Gourmand”.》

…A notification from the underlying system, an event he had been actively anticipating, materialized directly within his field of vision.