Chapter 375

Chapter 375
## Chapter 375: Yield to Me.

—

The Spirit Contract.

This was a mystical agreement where a divine entity from the Spirit Spire would grant a “fragment” of its authority to a mortal contractor, receiving “mana” as a form of security in return.

The requirement of mana to manifest the spirit into the material realm was a fundamental rule.

However, the most critical element was the aftermath of the contractor’s passing; at that moment, the spirit would claim the “root mana” embedded within the individual’s physical form and spiritual essence.

This was because every sentient life form held a specific quantity of the “source of life,” and by consuming this “root mana,” spirits were able to significantly broaden their consciousness and enhance their strength.

Consequently, the more concentrated an individual’s “root mana,” the more formidable the spirit they could establish a pact with.

Yet, there were virtually no entities who possessed a “root mana” vast enough to satisfy a “Spirit King.”

Such a person might emerge perhaps only once every few hundred years.

Even in those rare instances, there was no record of anyone utilizing the full extent of a Spirit King’s power.

This limitation existed because the strength bestowed was strictly relative to the “root mana” held by the human partner.

Even the ruler of the underworld, Isera, had managed to access a mere 20%.

After being transformed into a Blood Fiend, Isera could command 50%, but even that remained only half of the total potential.

Of course, there was a chance she might reach a figure near 100% in the future, but that remained a purely theoretical possibility.

Root mana was destined to expand as one shattered their personal limits.

Understandably, it was nearly impossible to form contracts with multiple Spirit Kings simultaneously.

To begin with… the very act of binding with several Spirit Kings was almost unheard of throughout the annals of history.

Within the human race, it was entirely unprecedented.

‘The solitary race capable of sustaining multiple Spirit King contracts was the Druids.’

The architects of the natural world.

The lineage that protected the World Trees and served as the stewards of their seeds.

They were the people who harbored the most profound root mana.

Nevertheless, even among the Druids, only a handful of figures—those regarded as myths—were capable of achieving “multiple Spirit King contracts.”

They were among the few beings that even the Spirit Kings treated with genuine acknowledgment and reverence.

The issue was that the Druids had vanished from the face of the continent.

One of the primary objectives that “Ruin” had focused on upon its arrival was the systematic destruction of the “Druids.”

Just as they sought to wipe out the Sinful Clan that oversaw the towers, the eradication of the Druids was deemed a top priority, making their extinction an inevitable conclusion.

For a long period following their fall, there hadn’t been a single instance of a Spirit King being summoned, let alone a multiple contract.

And yet.

‘But why…’

Why was the distinct aura of a Druid emanating from that specific human?

Agnis was fully aware that the “World Tree of Honor” had recently manifested.

And it had appeared alongside the mythical Druid “Albino,” no less.

Albino was certainly an individual with the capacity to contract with a Spirit King.

However, his inner nature did not resonate with the element of “fire.”

He would have been a natural match for the Spirit King of Water or the Spirit King of Earth.

That was the standard for all Druids.

There had never been a recorded case of the “Spirit King of Fire” entering a pact with a Druid.

An entity that sought to incinerate everything was fundamentally incompatible with the Druids who nurtured seeds.

But.

From that particular human…

‘It’s blistering.’

…A searing heat could be sensed.

The Root Fire.

No, a flame even more volatile, far exceeding it!

‘The Primeval Fire…!’

Before long, the realization struck.

Hidden within him was the “Primeval Fire.”

It was impossible for Agnis to be mistaken, as the catalyst Isera had employed to call him forth and bind him was that very “Primeval Fire.”

If that were the case, then this man had to be the human who had partitioned the Primeval Fire with Isera.

The true progenitor who held the Primeval Fire.

It now became crystal clear why he, despite radiating the presence of a Druid, was so perfectly suited for this element.

“—You are… the sovereign of flames.”

The Spirit King of Fire, Agnis, lowered its posture.

It was the requisite sign of respect for one who carried the Primeval Fire.

“T-the Spirit King is bowing?”

“What does ‘sovereign of flames’ mean?”

This was an event without parallel.

Even in the deepest histories of Pangenia, Spirit Kings were universally depicted as “arrogant and disdainful” entities.

The Spirit King of Fire, in particular, was notorious for that specific temperament.

There was no scenario where it would willingly lower its head to any being.

Yet, the shocks were far from over.

“—O, sovereign of flames. Will you enter into a contract with me, Agnis, the Spirit King of Fire?”

…For the Spirit King of Fire to be the one to propose a pact first.

Confusion was visible in the eyes of every onlooker.

They simply could not wrap their minds around the scene unfolding before them.

However, one fact was undeniable: they were watching a landmark moment in history with their own eyes.

The unheard-of event of a mortal being invited to contract with a Spirit King.

Who could have guessed they would be witnessing such a thing from a front-row seat?

Every gaze shifted toward the man.

Finally, under the heavy weight of everyone’s anticipation, he spoke.

“I decline.”

—

A heavy stillness settled over the area.

It was a response that absolutely no one had anticipated.

To think he would actually turn down a contract with a Spirit King!

It was a moment where one should have been weeping with appreciation and bowing in return!

“—…?”

Agnis was momentarily paralyzed with confusion.

Stunned by the reality that there existed a being who would reject a Spirit King’s offer.

It was completely baffled by a situation it had never encountered in its long existence.

However, the declaration that followed was even more shocking.

“Submit to me.”

“—Sub… mit…?”

What was this man talking about?

…Submit.

It was a demand to kneel and follow orders.

It wasn’t a proposal for a partnership between equals, but a demand to establish a clear hierarchy of “master” and “servant.”

Inevitably, the “master” would be the man, and the “servant” would be Agnis itself.

Merely hearing those words was a profound insult.

Who was it?

It was the Spirit King that every living soul lusted after.

Humans spent their lives dreaming and praying for a chance to contract with it.

“What is he saying?”

“Is he seriously saying he won’t make the pact?”

“H-he can’t be serious…!”

The observers were gripped by terror.

He hadn’t just said no to the contract.

Demanding “submission” was crossing a line, and doing so in the most extreme way possible.

They were currently in a crisis where humanity needed saving.

A bond with the Spirit King would be an incredible asset.

Instead, his arrogance might very well trigger its fury.

The Spirit King of Fire was legendary for its fierce pride!

‘This is impossible.’

There was no record, ancient or modern, of a Spirit King ever yielding.

It had never occurred since the day the Spirit Spire was erected.

Agnis turned its gaze.

It looked toward Alkar, the one who had previously restrained it.

‘Why is a Blood Fiend present here to begin with?’

Agnis was also tied to Isera by contract.

Therefore, it was easy to identify Alkar as a Blood Fiend.

The real question was why a Blood Fiend was traveling with humans.

‘Is it here to protect the one who shared the Primeval Fire with Isera?’

Could it be that its purpose was to shield that man?

Certainly, Alkar’s martial prowess was beyond comprehension.

He had long since exceeded the capabilities of a standard Blood Fiend.

If a titan like that was acting as a guardian, Agnis would be unable to force a pact.

But if it failed to secure a contract, the situation would devolve into the absolute worst-case scenario.

At this pace, Agnis would be stripped of all its divinity and transform into a spirit of chaos.

Falling into chaos was the ultimate disgrace for Agnis.

Everything about this was unthinkable, but…

“—I… will yield.”

The man who is thirsty is the one who digs the well.

In the end, Agnis lowered its head in surrender.

Time had truly run out.

Only Agnis possessed the power to incinerate the impurities to prevent the catastrophe.

To accomplish that, there was no alternative but to bind with the wielder of the “Primeval Fire.”

It was at that precise moment.

《’Agnis, the Spirit King of Fire,’ has submitted.》

《As a ‘unilateral contract’ is formed, no mana is required to summon ‘Agnis.’》

《The manifestation is fueled entirely by ‘Agnis’s’ own mana reserves.》

《’Agnis’ is unable to decline any summon request from the contractor.》

《Even upon the ‘Contractor’s’ death, ‘Agnis’ is forbidden from claiming the ‘root mana’ held by the ‘Contractor.’》

《However, the strength exhibited by the summoned Agnis is relative to the ‘root mana’ held by the ‘Contractor.’》

There had never been a contract as exploitative as this one.

Had it not been for the dire circumstances, it was an agreement Agnis would never have accepted, regardless of the cost.

Under normal conditions, even after a pact was made, the spirit maintained the right to decide whether to answer a summon.

There had been a point in the past when it had actually ignored a call from “The Lord of Hell, Isera.”

But for the human to have zero risk—a contract where they only reaped benefits?

And for it to be barred from the “root mana” that a spirit was traditionally entitled to after a mortal’s death!

‘T-this surging power is…?’

But Agnis couldn’t even find the words to protest.

The moment the bond was finalized.

A massive transformation took place within Agnis, which had previously dwindled to the size of a small spark.

“—Umm…?!”

—

The Blood Moon Priestess shifted her attention.

“…The barrier was destroyed?”

It was bizarre.

The only group ascending the mountain of fire were the humans she had been hunting.

But they should have undoubtedly been consumed by “The Unborn Being.”

Yet now, the seal was gone.

‘Is it possible?’

It seemed inconceivable, but did it mean they had somehow bypassed “The Unborn Being”?

Rumble!

Suddenly, the “mountain of fire” shuddered with intensity.

The inferno that had been ravaging the entire peak started to die down.

…The Spirit King of Fire, Agnis, had been tamed.

“We are turning back!”

The Blood Moon Priestess and the thousand-strong Yakshas began a desperate retreat back the way they had come.

At the base of the mountain of fire, they finally came face-to-face with the humans.

Shortly after, the Blood Moon Priestess felt a wave of regret.

“Aaargh…!”

“I-it’s a sea of flames!”

“Why is the Spirit King of Fire fighting for the humans…!”

Because the Spirit King Agnis stood alongside the mortals.

And more importantly, it was now in a state of power far greater than when it had been lost in its rampage.

—

At last, the group finished their descent.

They had accomplished every goal they had set for the mountain of fire.

They had tamed the Spirit King of Fire, secured a contract, and retrieved the “Bell of Fire.”

While this was a moment for celebration, the entire group, Arin included, remained silent and stunned.

The man who walked at the very head of their line.

The figure standing next to the Spirit King of Fire, Agnis, who had grown significantly larger than before.

These were the two powerhouses who had just played a decisive role in neutralizing all the combatants in the red martial arts uniforms.

Among the group, curiosity about the man was reaching a breaking point.

“…Are you truly Phantom?”

Finally, Gracia, unable to contain his questions any longer, spoke up.

He had spent a long time searching for clues about Phantom.

He had been desperate to uncover the identity of the mysterious figure.

But Phantom had always remained hidden in the shadows.

Now, he was standing directly in front of the individual suspected to be him.

In response to Gracia’s inquiry, Alkar, who had shifted back into his human appearance, simply gave a nonchalant shrug.

“Believe whatever you wish.”

Whether they chose to believe it or not was their concern.

Currently, he had been tasked with the vital duty of guiding the people as a proxy for the god of the Blood Fiends, Park Hyunmyeong.

This level of “performance” was a trivial matter for someone like Alkar.

However, the onlookers did not view Alkar’s behavior as an act.

The sheer power he had displayed, the submissive posture of the Spirit King Agnis—it all pointed to one conclusion.

…If he wasn’t Phantom, the reality was simply impossible to swallow.

“Were you the person behind the Wilhelm persona?”

“Who can say.”

“Is Randolph your actual identity? Or is it something else?”

“…”

Alkar offered no further responses.

Meanwhile, there were just as many eyes centered not on Alkar, but on Park Hyunmyeong.

‘To think that person actually bound the Spirit King of Fire…!’

An exhausted Choi Kang-nam screamed internally.

Something truly mind-blowing had occurred.

A second-generation awakened human had successfully contracted with the Spirit King of Fire!

It was a feat that neither Arin, nor Gracia, nor any of the other elites present had achieved.

If this news spread, that man would become a global sensation by tomorrow morning.

Specifically, the might of the Spirit King Agnis was legendary throughout the world.

No one would dare to cross him lightly.

…Wasn’t his luck just suspiciously good?

‘If he managed it, I can do it as well.’

There were still three Spirit Kings remaining.

He just needed to successfully form a pact with at least one of them.

Choi Kang-nam felt a wave of ambitious hope.

He then moved closer to Alkar’s side.

‘It has to be Phantom. If I stick by him, I’ll definitely pick up some high-level strategies…!’

No matter how he analyzed it, the man was definitely Phantom.

Staying close to him meant safety.

And he might be able to benefit from whatever leftover rewards came their way.

Following that, the group continued their journey without pausing for rest.

Before long, they arrived at their next objective: the “mountain of earth.”

-Clatter.

-Clatter.

“Golems…?”

“There are way too many of them, aren’t there?”

The problem was the legion of golems patrolling the mountain’s base.

They were likely the servants of another “Master of the Abyss.”

An endless number of golems were circling the mountain of earth.

And right in the middle of them, they saw it.

“W-what is that massive golem?”

“How can it be that huge?”

An impossibly large golem.

As it uncurled its massive frame, it was so tall it appeared to scrape the clouds.

They had never encountered a golem of such proportions.

…Except for me.

I identified the titanic golem the moment I laid eyes on it.

‘Are you still hunting for your creator, O master of the tomb?’