Choi Kangjoong quickly moved to where Kuongi was located.
The 10 km colossus welcomed him.
Even the Super Titan Class Apocalids, which were among the larger dimension ships at 2–3 km in length, looked small next to Kuongi.
“It’s a magnificent sight.”
“Ku-eong.”
Kuongi let out a low cry. Even though the sound was made without much effort, the area around Kuongi rumbled.
“You can use the Level 7 bioweapon well, right?”
“Ku-eong.”
Kuongi lowered a Biotube from its belly. That thick, sturdy tube served several purposes.
First, Apocalids could descend through the Biotube. While slower than Biopods and difficult for mass projection, it consumed fewer nutrients for movement, was safer, and allowed for a continuous stream of units.
It could also suck up nutrients stored in Soil Pits. Using the nutrients swallowed in this manner, Kuongi could independently combine Evolution Codes to produce Apocalids optimized for consuming the enemy.
There was one even more powerful function. It was the ability to change the environment of the dimension connected to the Biotube. It could suck in the atmosphere or water, and it could cause Dimensional Erosion, changing the dimension itself to be advantageous for the Apocalids.
“Let’s try using it where Ladespina’s Lair is.”
Choi Kangjoong turned the Apocalids’ direction of travel toward the location of Ladespina’s Lair.
‘I should produce more Apocalids while we’re on the way.’
He produced 40,000 Walkers and 4,400 Scouts, adjusting the numbers to maintain 250,000 Walkers and 35,000 Scouts. He also produced forty more Titans. The class composition consisted of 55 Titans, 110 Light Titans, and 35 Battle Titans.
He did not produce any Warriors or Giants. Since there were already 10,000 Warriors and 1,000 Giants, he wanted to wait until enough nutrients were gathered to double those numbers all at once.
Choi Kangjoong sent Central Stealth Scouts and Stealth Scouts ahead to the dimension where Ladespina’s Lair was located. The reconnaissance Apocalids that infiltrated the dimension quietly spread throughout the area. They closely observed what the only remaining dragon, Record, was doing.
‘He’s burying Mana Stones. Is he preparing Great Magic?’
Choi Kangjoong memorized the locations of the Mana Stones and deployed Stealth Scouts nearby. At his command, they would immediately dig up the stones. Since he had memorized all the locations, Choi Kangjoong could go himself even if the Stealth Scouts failed.
‘I should see what kind of magic it is and then dismantle it immediately.’
Production of the Apocalids was completed during the journey. The strange thing was that there were no attacks. One might expect a fight starting from the Dimensional Sea, but the Apocalids reached Ladespina’s dimension as easily as passing through an automatic door.
‘Are they not even going to stop the landing?’
There was no response even when the Apocalids landed on the Dimensional Boundary. No anti-air cannons were fired, and no shields were deployed. It remained still, as if welcoming them.
‘This is a hundred percent a trap. It must be related to the Mana Stones that the dragon named Record buried.’
Choi Kangjoong cautiously advanced the Apocalids. The Apocalids began to spread across the dimension, which had a radius of about 200 km.
‘I should produce some transport Apocalids too. I can modify them based on the Central Command Giant.’
If he removed everything else, enhanced the floating ability, and expanded the internal space, it could become an excellent transport Apocalid.
“Let’s start with the dimensional conversion.”
The Biotube lowered by Kuongi dropped at a midpoint between Ladespina’s Lair and the Dimensional Boundary. The Biotube, which dug into the ground, absorbed the atmosphere and eroded the surrounding dimension.
Wuuuuu—!
A low sound echoed due to the atmosphere being sucked in at a tremendous speed. It was as if the eroding dimension was screaming.
Titans roamed the Dimensional Sea, pouring Mana Cannon fire onto locations where Mana or heat was detected. The ground was torn up, and the Golems or monsters underground were killed instantly.
When the Apocalids had occupied 25% of the dimension, Ladespina soared from the lair. She sat atop the lair and looked down. As expected of a Dragon Lord who had led a clan of thirty, her body length reached 3 km.
The scales, shimmering in various colors, were harder than any metal, and the Mana held within her Dragon Heart was vast enough to trigger a volcanic eruption. Even if she had appeared on Earth alone, she was a being the entire world would have had to unite against.
-So, you have finally arrived.
One corner of Ladespina’s mouth curled up. It was a sneer.
“I’m curious about what you were doing here. But you won’t just tell me. Let’s start by beating you up.”
The nine Super Titans—increased to that number since Kuongi became a Hive Class—and the only Hive Class, Kuongi, aimed at Ladespina.
Kwaaaaang!
Ten streams of Breath plummeted down. Ladespina flapped her wings and deployed a Shield. The Breath was deflected in various directions. It could not pierce the peculiar Shield, which was bent at odd angles and sprouted protrusions.
“Keep firing.”
The bombardment from 55 Titans and 110 Light Titans began. Ladespina endured the powerful attacks that could overturn the very earth with her bare body and raised her head. A sphere fired from her mouth soared through the clouds.
Kwaaaaaang!
The Titans directly hit by it exploded. Nearby Titans and Light Titans also suffered severe wounds to their sides or backs. It was a terrifying level of power, considering they had magic resistance.
“She’s strong, as expected.”
“Grrr.”
Lutal led the Battle Titans, Giants, and Warriors as they charged forward. Ladespina looked down at them haughtily.
-Do you know the difference between your kind and dragons?
-I’m not particularly curious.
Choi Kangjoong sent a telepathic message through a Central Command Giant. Ladespina stared at the Central Command Giant floating in the sky. Her eyes were filled with contempt.
-It is that you cannot use magic. Do you think that by stitching together crude techniques onto a tough body, you can stand against a dragon, the master of magic?
-I’ve already killed nine dragons.
-They were mere children. I shall show you true magic, the likes of which they never knew. Die.
The Dragon Tongue—a command that was magic and will itself, fueled by immense mental strength and Mana. While other dragons could only use it against three or four Apocalids due to the strain, she unleashed it over a wide area.
The Dragon Tongue pierced through the Apocalid World deployed by the Central Command Warriors. After resisting for a short while with Death Resistance, the Apocalids died silently and collapsed.
Thump.
Even the Battle Titans fell. Walkers dragged the corpses away to decompose them and put them into the Soil Pits. Choi Kangjoong remained indifferent. He had expected losses, and there were still many Apocalids left.
-Is this all?
-This is merely a taste to show you what true magic is.
Ladespina took flight and circled around the lair. The Mana Stones buried underground resonated with her Dragon Heart. The ground shook, and a peculiar Mana wave spread out.
-Magic twists phenomena.
-I know that much.
-However, that is a low-level act that only changes the surface of the world. True magic twists the very concept of the world. Be victorious.
Her command became reality. Suddenly, the ground collapsed, swallowing the Apocalids. Apocalids swimming in a lake sank into a sudden whirlpool. Lightning struck down, battering the Apocalids. Fires that broke out in the forest sent heat only toward the Apocalids, roasting their Chitin Gauntlets.
Monsters attacked the Apocalids. A Troll that could normally be defeated by a single Warrior emerged victorious even after fighting three or four Warriors. An Ogre overwhelmed a Giant. The Stealth Scouts’ task of digging up the Mana Stones also failed as trees moved or monsters attacked.
‘This is fascinating.’
Even without physical buffs like acceleration or strength enhancement, monsters that should have naturally lost were winning against the Apocalids. The dimension itself was hostile toward the Apocalids. It was as if the very concept of losing had been erased.
‘It’s more fundamental than the Apocalid World.’
The Apocalid World was a wide-area technique that enhanced the strength and Regeneration of Apocalids while exerting a mental attack on the enemy. If the enemy had the strength to overcome the Apocalids and a means to block mental attacks, it could be breached.
However, Ladespina’s Great Magic ignored such logic. It twisted the concepts of the world itself to ensure her side was victorious.
‘Is it similar to Source Magic?’
Indeed, Choi Kangjoong felt Source Energy around Lutal. Though faint, modified Source Energy was interfering with the Apocalids and aiding the dimension and the monsters.
‘I should watch a bit longer.’
To Choi Kangjoong, who was thirsty for the application of Source Magic, Great Magic using Source Energy was an excellent teacher. He decided to observe, even if it meant accepting the loss of Apocalids.
‘It doesn’t work against Dimensional Erosion.’
The Great Magic of Ladespina could not influence the area around Kuongi’s Biotube where Dimensional Erosion was occurring. Monsters that entered that area were defeated even by Walkers and fell into the Soil Pits. Even the earth and atmosphere, which were hostile to the Apocalids, were peaceful there.
-Hmm?
Ladespina noticed this as well. She flew closer to the area where Dimensional Erosion was taking place, even as she was hit by Mana Cannons.
-How can this be…?
Ladespina also knew that the Apocalids could change the source of a dimension. Such large-scale work was possible for Ladespina as well. What she was doing at the lair now was the same thing.
However, changing it in such a localized and gradual manner was impossible. Source Energy was an extremely difficult power to handle. Ladespina followed the Biotube with her eyes. Upon discovering Kuongi connected to the end of the Biotube, her eyes twitched.
Fury and curiosity flared within her at the fact that a mere monster, just one of them, was changing the source.
-This is why that person took an interest.
-Who is “that person”?
-If you want to know, try defeating me.
Ladespina spread her wings and prepared to attack the Biotube. Choi Kangjoong quickly went through a Gate to the dimension where the battle was occurring. Numerous Magic Missiles were created around Ladespina and fired. Though it was a basic attack spell, when cast by a Dragon Lord, each one possessed the power of a spell cast by a B-rank mage.
To prevent her from attacking the Biotube, Choi Kangjoong used Stealth Blink to move behind Ladespina and swung his Chitin Blade.
-Outer Mind!
Ladespina hurriedly turned her body. Numerous Magic Missiles changed direction and flew toward Choi Kangjoong. He moved again with Stealth Blink and deployed Space Severance of the Origin. The Magic Missiles lost their target and wavered.
Pop!
Ladespina unleashed a detection spell. It was powerful enough that Kai would not be able to hide. She found the part where the Mana was severed and concentrated her detection magic to pinpoint Choi Kangjoong’s location. Once again, Magic Missiles flew toward him.
Choi Kangjoong used the brains of the connected Skyeye Giants to calculate the path of the Magic Missiles. Cannon Giants raised their barrels and moved slightly to aim at the interception points.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
Three hundred Mana Shells fired from the Mana Cannons soared up and intercepted or blocked the Magic Missiles. As the Mana Shells exploded, a chain of flashes occurred. Within the perfectly calculated explosions, Choi Kangjoong was not hit by even one single Magic Missile.
Lutal, having instantly accelerated beyond the speed of sound, aimed for the back of Ladespina’s head. Choi Kangjoong also charged forward, neutralizing Ladespina’s Great Magic with Source Magic.
From above, the large Apocalids attacked Ladespina. The Super Titans fired their Breaths whenever Ladespina entered their targeting range.
The attack of the Apocalids, who were one yet many, and many yet one. Ladespina grew flustered by the assault that flowed organically under the control of the Outer Mind.