Chapter 378

Chapter 378
## Chapter 378: The Heavenly Demon

The ‘Seed of Earth’ represented the essence of Um, the Spirit King.

Only an individual capable of making Um’s seed sprout could ever hope to form a pact with the entity. Furthermore, the extent of the seed’s development determined how much of Um’s terrestrial authority the contractor could command. Because the germinated seed acted as the physical anchor for Um to be manifested into the world, its successful growth was of paramount importance.

The difficulty, however, was legendary.

—Establishing a bond with Um is more meticulous than with any other Spirit King.

—The initial hurdle is sprouting the ‘Seed of Earth’, but if the resulting sapling is sickly, the contract becomes a liability rather than an asset.

—Most importantly, the flora emerging from the ‘Seed of Earth’ possesses a fragile spark of life. It can perish from the slightest neglect. It is so susceptible to blight and environmental stress that the user spends every waking moment as a gardener.

—You are better off becoming a common peasant than seeking Um’s favor.

—If there is any other path, avoid the ‘Seed of Earth’ at all costs!

Such warnings were common wisdom among those who walked the path of spirits. The sheer labor required to sprout the seed and maintain the subsequent plant was immense. These trees were notoriously delicate, and the consequence of their failure was absolute.

If the tree perished, the life of the contractor was extinguished alongside it. Consequently, even those who successfully bonded with the Spirit King found themselves enslaved to the tree’s survival for the rest of their days. Because of this fatal tether, a contract with Um was viewed as a death sentence unless one was prepared to sacrifice their humanity to become a literal guardian of the wood.

However.

What if those traditional failures were absent?

What if the sprout that emerged was a specimen that could never decay?

What if the foundation of the soil was so potent that the tree required no external protection?

‘The alliance with Um would then provide unparalleled advantages.’

Agnis contemplated this.

Among the elemental sovereigns, Um was the most taxing for a human to manage. This was due to the tree’s ravenous consumption of terrestrial energy. Yet, if the tree managed to truly stabilize itself, the surrounding territory would reach a level of fertility beyond comprehension. Earth spirits would be generated in an endless cycle.

…And that territory would be immune to ‘contamination’.

Every Spirit King possessed a specific method for neutralizing ‘contamination’. Agnis utilized incineration, while Um converted the corruptive essence into nutrients for the ‘germinated seed’. The Spirit King of Water, Iquerel, employed purification, and Shandi, the Spirit King of Wind, dispersed the toxins until they were harmlessly diluted. Without the intervention of these kings, the terrestrial realm would eventually collapse into a state resembling the ‘Abyss’. Alternatively, entities that do not belong to this reality would breach the veil and ignite total carnage. The Spirit Kings were the lynchpins of universal equilibrium.

‘This region is saturated with corruptive forces.’

Therefore, if a seed were to take root here, there was no risk of the soil losing its vitality. On the contrary, the abundance of “food” would accelerate its maturation. The only danger was if the initial sprout was too weak to handle the intake, as over-fertilization can kill a fragile plant.

But.

The entity currently emerging from the ‘Seed of Earth’ was a complete anomaly.

It defied all known logic.

“—…This isn’t mere development. This… has surged past the boundaries of growth.”

The seed had indeed sprouted. Park Hyunmyeong had achieved the germination that had eluded all others. Normally, the next phase would involve a slow, arduous process of anchoring roots into the crust. Stabilization usually preceded expansion.

Yet.

“—A divine tree…?”

The seed had bypassed infancy to become a ‘divine tree’. Such a specimen was a direct kin to the World Tree itself. Any forest harboring a divine tree would see its inhabitants thrive, and the natural limits of the local races would be elevated. These races would naturally worship and protect the tree, removing the burden of maintenance from the contractor.

This was a historical first. No record existed of the ‘Seed of Earth’ instantly manifesting as a divine tree. But even that assessment soon proved to be an understatement.

“—N-no. It is far more than a divine tree…!”

Um was struck by a wave of pure shock. The vegetation, initially mistaken for a divine tree, refused to stop growing. In a heartbeat, it inhaled every scrap of local contamination. The “mountain of earth” was cleansed instantly, and the agitated spirits nearby grew tranquil as their environment stabilized.

The rate of expansion was incomprehensible. It was less like biological growth and more like a transcendental ‘evolution’.

The process continued. A divine tree is often compared to the World Tree because of its aesthetic similarities.

“—Such a phenomenon should be impossible…!”

If a divine tree continues to expand without limit… what does it become?

—’How can a mere seed transform into a World Tree…’

The result was a World Tree. Even Um, an ancient elemental, had never witnessed such an event. The potential of the ‘Seed of Earth’ was vast, but a World Tree was not a manufactured object. Even the most powerful Druids only tended to existing seeds; they could not birth a ‘seed of the World Tree’. Those were only ever produced by the ‘First World Tree’.

And yet, a new World Tree stood before them…

《The ‘World Tree of Spirits’ has established its roots within the ‘Deep Abyss’.》

《The ‘Heavenly Contaminant’ plaguing the region has been drastically diminished.》

《The ruined Spirit Spire is beginning to reconstruct its foundation.》

《The spirits of ‘Fire’ and ‘Earth’ have regained their clarity of mind.》

Its designated title was the ‘World Tree of Spirits’. It was a sanctum that all spirits were instinctively driven to defend.

《’The Spirit King of Earth, Um’ is now a subordinate of the ‘World Tree of Spirits’.》

《’Fragments of the Broken Golden Rule’ are being produced at an accelerated rate.》

《The overseer of the ‘World Tree of Spirits’ shall receive 1 ‘Intact Golden Rule’ every 1,000 hours.》

‘…I… have been enslaved to the very symbol of my power?’

Um could not process the irony. The Seed of Earth was Um’s own mark of office. Now, the Spirit King was bound to its own emblem. This meant Um was now the subordinate of the one who had awakened the World Tree of Spirits.

Normally, the contractor was the one obligated to nurture the tree. If it died, they died. Now, that entire burden of responsibility had shifted onto Um.

‘If the World Tree of Spirits ever fails… I will be the one to vanish…’

The entire situation was surreal. It inverted the laws of spiritual engagement. To have a bond with a Spirit King without any of the risks or duties? To hold a contract where one only takes the power without paying the price?

‘Um’ looked toward the person standing nearby.

“—Welcome to the fold, ally.”

Agnis spoke, wearing an expression of genuine delight that was entirely out of character.

—

The World Tree of Honor.

And now, the World Tree of Spirits.

I was now the custodian of two separate World Trees. With the first tree, I earned two ‘Intact Golden Rules’ every thousand hours by clearing its specific dungeon.

‘Now, I’ll be collecting three Intact Golden Rules roughly every forty days.’

The math was staggering. An ‘Intact Golden Rule’ was a prize so rare it usually required a legendary, world-altering achievement to obtain even one. Now, I was generating them passively.

“A-a World Tree has appeared…!”

“Wait. Does this mean we are linked to the ‘World Tree Community’?”

“…No. The roots are still contained within this realm; they haven’t bridged the gap to the outside yet.”

The observers were in a state of chaos. The sudden manifestation of a World Tree was enough to rattle anyone. Despite the lack of an external connection, the mood was largely optimistic.

“Regardless, we can finally collect Fragments of the Golden Rule!”

“They’ll likely be handed out based on our contributions.”

“We’re moving faster than anyone predicted. If this keeps up, the Spirit Kings of Water and Wind will be ours in no time!”

“But who is the man who secured the earth contract?”

The initial celebration was cut short as everyone turned their focus toward me. It was the obvious question. The tree had bloomed precisely during my intervention.

“Who exactly is he?”

“I thought he was part of the Korean support group.”

“He was, but he wasn’t listed on their official ‘roster’…”

“Binding with two Spirit Kings… his power level must be off the charts.”

The situation was entirely unprecedented. During the encounter with the Spirit King of Fire, the chaos surrounding the Black-Tainted Alkar had distracted them. Now, they couldn’t ignore the fact that the same man had claimed the Spirit King of Earth. Who was this unregistered powerhouse?

“His true identity is classified.”

Arin stepped in to quiet the crowd. She made it clear that no information would be forthcoming. It wasn’t just about her agreement with Park Tae-woo. If ‘Park Hyunmyeong’ was identified here, every global superpower would move to claim him. He was already a noted ‘super rookie’, but the news of a dual contract with Spirit Kings would change everything.

‘…The geopolitical fallout would be a nightmare.’

South Korea lacked the resources to protect such a valuable asset from international pressure. Even the Hero Alliance would be overmatched. Other nations would offer him unimaginable wealth and influence, and Park Hyunmyeong would likely follow the path of his own ambition. If that happened, he would drift away from her.

“I see. He’s a secret weapon Korea has been keeping in reserve.”

“Korea… they have much more depth than we gave them credit for…”

“It seems we’ve been underestimating their potential…”

The crowd began to spin their own narratives based on Arin’s silence. Arin had just decimated Darkstar, and now this man had conquered two Spirit Kings. Both were Korean. This realization alone forced the world to re-evaluate Korea’s military standing.

“Our next target is the ‘mountain of water’. We will engage the ‘Spirit King of Water, Iquerel’ there.”

The Black-Tainted Alkar—Phantom—spoke up. They couldn’t afford to waste time on speculation.

Suddenly.

*Ruuuumble!*

The ground beneath them groaned. The entirety of the Deep Abyss began to shudder violently.

“Is this an earthquake?”

“No…!”

“Look toward the horizon!”

Every eye turned toward the ‘mountain of water’. The tremors were brief, but the result was terrifying. The ‘mountain of water’ simply vanished from existence.

Agnis, sensing the shift, spoke with a quivering voice.

“—I-Iquerel has been extinguished…”

…Extinguished?

The news was a physical blow. Agnis’s shock quickly morphed into a terrifying fury. Pillars of fire erupted from the Spirit King, scorching the mountainside.

“—Agnis! Stop! You’ll destroy the earth spirits!”

Um attempted to intervene, but Agnis was beyond reason. After countless ages, the King of Fire was experiencing true, unfiltered wrath. In that moment, Agnis knew exactly who was responsible for Iquerel’s end.

“—Heaven… ly… Demon…!!”

—

The strategy had been forced to evolve.

Once the humans had successfully bonded with the Spirit King of Fire, the creation of a perfect ‘Spirit King of Chaos’ became impossible. Consequently, the other dominant forces within the Abyss began to pursue their own agendas.

The Heavenly Demon was no exception.

“If a king cannot be made, then I shall simply become the King of Chaos myself.”

He had obliterated the Spirit King of Water, Iquerel, through sheer force. Following the destruction, he had consumed the Spirit King’s fundamental essence.

‘The Whale of India… that one has sharp instincts.’

He hadn’t completed his checklist yet. The Heavenly Demon had already assimilated all the dark deities from the ‘Heavenly Demon’s Path’. With no limits and no equals, he considered himself truly supreme. His original plan had been to consume the ‘Whale of India’ alongside the Spirit King of Water.

The Heavenly Demon. He had already neutralized two of the Abyss’s primary Masters.

‘Just wait for your turn, Sunken Emperor.’

The ‘Sunken Emperor’ was his ultimate prize. If he could harvest that power, no force in the world could stand against him. The Heavenly Demon allowed himself a cold smile.

Then, he paused.

“A World Tree…?”

He sensed the sudden blooming of a World Tree on the mountain of earth. He also noted that the ‘Blood Moon Priestess’, who had left to cull the humans, had failed to return.

The Heavenly Demon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then, he began to walk.

He set his sights on the mountain of earth. To that very location.