CHAPTER 144
144 — I Am Only Taking Back What Is Mine

Two stars had fallen.
That was the rumor circulating in the Spirit Realm. Of course, some called them Dark Monarchs, or Tumors of the Spirit Realm. There were plenty of beings who looked down on the Monarchs who held the Seeds of Erosion.
In any case, the annihilation of Jerakson and Prycia was a famous event in the Spirit Realm.
In Prycia's case, it was only speculation, but in Jerakson's case, they knew the culprit. It was a human. A human who had ascended from a lower world.
That same human had even threatened Belkarim and was famous for having defeated Silbaern. Some of the most powerful beings in the Spirit Realm had been brought to their knees by a single human.
'That human is the one who defeated Jerakson...'
A growl rumbled from Cain's throat. The human who defeated Silbaern and Jerakson. Setting Silbaern aside, Cain knew very well how strong Jerakson was.
Dragons were creatures born to ascend to the Spirit Realm. Simply by training without issue and becoming an ancient dragon, they became Spirits. Soul, mind, and body—unless there was a significant flaw in one of these areas, most of them did.
And he was the one who had risen to the top among the dragons who had ascended to the Spirit Realm. The ruler of the sky who commanded countless dragons as his subordinates and ruled over a corner of the Spirit Realm's heavens.
The one who defeated that powerhouse. And although it wasn't certain, there were rumors that even Prycia had died at his hands.
"Is something the matter?"
Just then, Permu spoke from beyond the wall, looking at Cain.
[What is it.]
She was the one cowering in fear just a moment ago, and now she was initiating conversation? Cain's nose twitched as he asked, and Permu replied.
"What are you so afraid of?"
[...!]
Cain's eyes snapped open. The whites of his eyes turned red and bloodshot.
Me, afraid? How dare you, how dare you spout such nonsense?
Cain ripped at the root wall with his steel-like claws. Kwwwaaaaa! The hard wall was mercilessly torn apart by his sharp claws. However, the roots were too numerous and grew back too quickly, so the torn wall was restored in an instant.
The two were still separated, but Cain's show of force certainly silenced Permu.
[Shut up, elf. There is nothing in this world that I fear.]
The fur on his entire body stood on end as Cain's form became more bestial. A half-man, half-beast. His golden mane, symbolizing the sun, was like that of a sacred lion revered in some world. And yet, his body held a Seed of Erosion.
Permu wanted to taunt him one more time. Something about how the most frightened dogs bark the loudest, or how empty carts make the most noise. But even if she wanted to, her lips wouldn't move. Cain's fury filled the surroundings, pressing down on her. Not even the root wall could block it.
'But I'm sure of it. He's afraid of something.'
That made it all the clearer. Cain's state was definitely strange. The one who had been sitting with such leisure just a moment ago now had his fur on end and had even revealed his true form.
Because Permu had been trying so hard to maintain her sanity while being terrified of him, she was able to notice the fact that he was afraid faster than anyone else. Even faster than Cain himself.
[He's coming soon.]
Cain had been waiting here for the World Tree's power to weaken. If his minions conquered the forest and killed a large number of elves, their many souls would return to the World Tree.
To gather the souls of elves and birth them into new life was the duty and purpose of this world's World Tree. However, trying to reincarnate a massive number of souls without sufficient nutrients would inevitably weaken it.
He had been waiting here for that moment, but that human bastard had messed it all up.
[Foolish creature. It would have been much more troublesome if he had just dealt with my underlings instead of coming here.]
Fortunately, the human was heading this way. Was he curious about the World Tree's situation and the queen's safety?
If so, the story becomes simple. He just had to kill the fool who had walked right into the tiger's den—no, the lion's den—and then he could leisurely resume the slaughter of the elves.
Cain was still watching 'someone.' Permu did not know who the being he was watching was.
But she knew his eyes were fixed on that person. Cain's consciousness was no longer focused here.
'Could I land a blow if I find an opening?'
Escaping was impossible. She couldn't leave this tower.

But couldn't she land a blow on him while his guard was down? Even if a serious wound was impossible, couldn't she at least inject him with poison and cause him some pain?
Permu swallowed hard, considering various methods.

They arrived at the royal palace. There were no elves in sight. All that was there were countless wolves and the black roots holding them back.
"Let's wipe them out."
As things stood, they couldn't get in either. The roots protecting the palace were like a castle gate; they wouldn't open unless the enemy was repelled.
The wolves that had been attacking the World Tree covering the palace saw Jinwoo's party and rushed toward them. Ipril skillfully created distance and fired her arrows, and Rona finished off the wolves that were momentarily stunned by the barrage.
Having fought together many times on their way here, their coordination was perfectly natural. They were no match for the pack-hunting wolves.
Jinwoo moved entirely on his own, because neither Rona nor Ipril had the ability to coordinate with him. If they were to try, Jinwoo would have to adjust to them, which would be a great loss in terms of overall power.
Slash—!
Jinwoo's sword extended without hesitation. He cut down all the wolves pouncing from every direction, leaving no blind spots. As long as he could sense their flames, there were no blind spots for Jinwoo.
Thanks to the efforts of the three, a path was quickly cleared. A few enemies remained, but they didn't dare to attack. The remaining wolves watched Jinwoo's sword with wavering eyes and kept their distance.
In that gap, the World Tree opened a path for them. An invitation to the royal palace. Rona, who had been kicked out of the palace just a short while ago, widened her eyes at the changed situation.
'Me and the other knights were all driven out.'
The knights who had originally been in the palace. Those who protected the priestess had all been cast out by the World Tree. They weren't harmed, but it was a rejection. A statement that the likes of them could not protect the priestess.
But now that Jinwoo had arrived, the path opened wide. Seeing the gate open as if it had been waiting, Rona once again pondered the relationship between Jinwoo and the World Tree.
Originally, she had imagined a sort of contractual relationship, where the World Tree bestowed its grace upon Jinwoo and Jinwoo repaid it in kind. A clean transaction of giving and receiving. But the atmosphere she felt now was more than that.
'It's like... a deeper trust...'
It felt like it had moved beyond mere trust into the realm of faith. A feeling that a human-like affection was being exchanged, going beyond a simple transaction. Of course, it was just a feeling.
"Rona! Ipril! We're going in!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Got it!"
Jinwoo's shout snapped Rona back to her senses, and she followed behind him. A wolf tried to lunge through the open path, but an arrow shot by Ipril struck it between the eyes, and it fell away.
In the short time she had been traveling with Jinwoo, Ipril's skills had risen sharply. The time they spent together was short, but it was dense. They fought dozens of enemies almost daily, so it was impossible for her not to gain experience.
Now, she was at a level where she could take down even a Monarch's minion if she aimed for an opening. It was completely different from before, when she had struggled against a single Black Knight.
One could say she grew because she followed Jinwoo, but conversely, it was because she had grown that she was able to follow him this far.
"Which way?"
Ipril asked. Normally, there would have been a target clearly visible from afar, the tower, but for some reason, it was not visible now. Was it hidden?
"This way."
Jinwoo kicked off the ground without hesitation. The shape of the tower was not visible, but he knew its location. To be precise, he could feel two types of flames inside the tower.
One was a familiar flame. Permu. The flame of the priestess who served the World Tree.
Her flame was currently trembling violently. It meant she was in a critical or fearful situation, enough to shake her very soul. It was probably because of the other flame that was with her.
'I see the Seed.'
Near Permu, there was a Black Flame. Not just any flame, but one that held the Seed of a Monarch.
He had already collected two seeds, those of Jerakson and Prycia. Ten remained. One of them was right ahead.
Kwaaaaaang!
The roots were cleared away, and the hidden tower was revealed. Jinwoo shattered its wall and leaped inside. He didn't wait for Ipril and Rona, dashing forward at full speed on his own.
He aimed for only one thing. The flame that held the Seed. Cain, the Lord of Beasts.
[...!]
Just as the tower wall shattered, a sword was upon him in an instant. The blade approached the nape of his neck, and Cain was stunned. He knew he was coming, but he hadn't expected him to be this fast.

Krrrrroooar! With a roar that shook the air, Cain leaped back. Fortunately, the blade only grazed him, and only a few drops of blood fell from his neck, staining his mane.
"Sir Jinwoo!?"
Only then did Permu realize that the man Cain had been wary of was Jinwoo. And that he was the one who had come to save her and the World Tree.
'How...'
She knew Jinwoo was strong enough to explore the Spirit Realm. But she never imagined he would be so strong that a Monarch would be wary of him and dodge with all its might.
"It's been a while, Permu."
The root wall that had firmly separated Permu and Cain slowly opened on its own. To welcome Jinwoo and allow him to stand by Permu's side.
There was no longer a need for the wall. In fact, putting up a wall now would be like protecting Cain from Jinwoo. The roots no longer formed a wall inside the tower.
[Are you the human? The one who defeated Jerakson.]
"..."
He didn't bother to answer, simply aiming his sword. Cain's nose twitched, and he continued.
[I saw you when you brought down the Sky Temple. Back then, I just thought you were an amusing human...]
"You probably never imagined you'd have your head cut off by a human from a lower world. After living as a Monarch for thousands of years."
The Seeds of the Monarchs had been scattered an immeasurably long time ago. It wasn't that their owners hadn't changed during that time.
Some had perished, unable to withstand the Seed's Erosion, while others had taken their own lives to free themselves from it. Thus, the twelve seeds had wandered the universe until they met their current owners and settled down.
Since then, it had been at least several thousand years. The owners of the Seeds, the Monarchs, had not changed.
[Your name?]
"It's Kang Jinwoo."
[I see, Kang Jinwoo. I acknowledge your strength and your achievements. But is there really a reason for us to fight?]
Cain spoke in an insinuating tone. He looked like a mindless beast that would run wild, but the way he spoke and thought seemed quite cunning.
[If you have Jerakson's Seed, you should know that it is a double-edged sword. It's difficult to control, and if you let your guard down, it will swallow you whole. Rumor has it you have Prycia's Seed as well...]
"..."
[Not one, but two? That alone should be your limit. If you obtain a third seed, you will surely collapse. Is there still a reason to be hostile towards me?]
Cain's words were the established theory. A Seed was, after all, a Seed of Erosion. The source of the Erosion that invaded all sorts of stars in the universe.
The more one possessed, the less safe the owner would be. Even Jerakson had spent a long time building up his power just to attack Belkarim. It meant that in all that time, he had only managed to acquire the ability to accommodate a second seed.
Jinwoo already had two seeds. If he were to obtain a third one from Cain, it would certainly become more dangerous, but...
"That's not your concern."
Jinwoo was fine. Because this wasn't about gaining power. He was only taking back what was his. Letting an object return to its original state, to where it belongs.
[You pathetic fool.]
Cain sneered at Jinwoo. From that reaction, Jinwoo was certain. Jerakson had known who he was, and Prycia had at least had an inkling.
But Cain, he realized, had not the slightest clue about his past life.