Chapter 53: The Devil of Devouring

Dark City was a society ruled by a strict hierarchy.

Slaves performed the hardest and most dangerous tasks, like laboring in the Soil Pit or serving as bait, while commoners became regular crew members or merchants.

All the good things were monopolized by the Nobles.

To become a Captain or Commander, one had to be born a Noble, and gaining any sort of power was the same.

Regardless of one’s ability or talent, it was only the rank of one’s parents that determined one’s future.

Such a class system inevitably stagnated.

The authority of the Nobles would only grow stronger, commoners would decrease, and the number of slaves would rise—a deepening polarization that was the norm.

But Dark City was different.

It was because of the absolute power of Charigna.

Anyone whose abilities didn’t match their position would lose their head, no questions asked.

It was not unusual for an entire Noble family to be executed.

The vacancies created in this way were filled by new Nobles.

Charigna hadn’t intended it, but a ladder of social mobility was created.

And so, the organization called the Royal Pirate was born.

Pirates weren’t known for their loyalty, but Charigna—distantly related to Dielka—called them this out of a longing for chivalry.

An organization that followed only the Queen, the strongest in Dark City.

Among them were outstanding Commanders.

“Look! Those things are monsters that can even swallow entire dimensions. They’re beasts that know nothing of prisoners. Do you think you’ll be spared if you throw down your weapons and surrender? Do you feel that fear growing stronger the closer they come?”

At the Royal Pirate’s speech, the pirates gulped nervously.

The cause of their inexplicable unease and fear was now clear.

“What happens if you enter a monster’s cage unarmed? You’re eaten alive. There’s only one way to survive: pick up your weapon and kill first. This isn’t plunder or robbery. This is a fight for survival. If you want to live, then fight!”

The words, striking at their survival instinct, made the battle not for money or Nobles, but for themselves.

The atmosphere among the pirates changed.

Slaves, who had only moved on command, now voluntarily picked up swords and guns.

Dark Elves who had been hiding in the shadows came forward to fight.

Even the seriously wounded began preparing for battle.

Almost every Dark Elf in Dark City, watching the approaching Apocalid, was aflame with fighting spirit.

“So there are pirates like that.”

Choi Kangjoong was observing every corner of Dark City through the Stealth Scout.

“A Commander like that is better taken out early. Kuongi, fire.”

As Choi Kangjoong’s will was conveyed, the Stealth Scout climbed to a higher vantage point.

After pinpointing the Royal Pirate’s position, it relayed the coordinates to Kuongi.

Mana and Source Energy gathered within Kuongi’s body.

Making minute adjustments, Kuongi carefully aimed at the coordinates provided by the Stealth Scout, then opened its mouth.

Lightning Breath shot out.

Dark City’s Shield was pierced in an instant, and the dangerous, powerful force struck the spot where the Royal Pirates stood.

KWAANG!

The Royal Pirate targeted by Choi Kangjoong was vaporized before even realizing what was happening.

The surrounding pirates didn’t escape unscathed, either.

The tremendous explosion shook all of Dark City.

Even Charigna could feel it.

Joints unable to withstand the shock gave way.

A chunk accounting for a fifth of Dark City broke off and fell away.

Kuongi turned and unleashed the Mana Cannon.

Where the Mana Engine had shut down and the Shield’s protection was lost, a rain of shells fell.

The decaying outer walls were blown apart, and Dark Elves hiding inside were helplessly blasted to pieces.

The Dark Elves didn’t just stand by.

They fired Mana Ballistae and attacked the Titans with spells and Spirits.

The Titans’ chitinous armor was damaged, and some even bled.

Compared to their size, it was only a scratch, but a wound was a wound.

“Iselin’s good at healing. Maybe I should create an Apocalid that uses Life Essence.”

The Apocalid’s field buff did enhance regeneration, but it was less effective than using Life Essence.

“I’ll think more once I catch Charigna.”

Kuongi had drawn very close to Dark City.

There was no need to fire Bio Pods to cross over.

A few leaps and it could reach Dark City.

“You’ll have to play the role of Soil Pit up close.”

One Titan, which had been firing its Mana Cannon, turned its body ninety degrees toward Dark City.

Smaller Apocalids clung to that Titan, following along.

The Dark Elves launched frenzied attacks, causing significant damage to the chitin armor, but aside from that, the group reached Dark City without incident.

KUUUNG!

The Titan smashed through the dimensional line anchoring Dark City and burrowed in.

Apocalids within its belly poured out through its mouth and side holes.

The Central Cannon Giant on its back blocked the front with a shield and prioritized destroying the Mana Ballistae that could threaten the Titan.

The Central Command Giant led the Apocalids forward.

Already powerful Warriors, now boosted by the Apocalid field buff, went berserk.

Choi Kangjoong lounged atop Kuongi’s head, watching leisurely.

Dark City was a fragile structure that could only exist in a place without gravity. Even bombardment alone was slowly causing it to collapse.

In an instant, millions of Dark Elves perished, and even more Apocalids spawned.

“You useless fools!”

Charigna, sitting on her throne and receiving minute-by-minute reports, exploded with rage.

“You’re losing to mere monsters?”

“They… they’re not ordinary monsters.”

Charigna flicked her hand.

Royal Pirates grabbed the man by his arms and dragged him to Charigna’s right.

Charigna raised her heavy arm and brought it down on him.

THUD!

The Dark Elf’s head vanished, and his corpse was tossed into the Sea of Dimensions.

“I’ll handle this myself.”

Charigna rose from her seat.

An ordinary person wouldn’t even have been able to sit, burdened by such flab, but she stood up lightly.

She gripped Charrigna’s Whip in her right hand and waddled out of the Great Hall.

The moment she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of a Dark Elf being bisected at the waist by a Warrior’s sickle claw.

SPLAT!

Charigna lashed her whip.

The tip of the whip, easily breaking the sound barrier, slammed into a Warrior’s torso, sending it flying into the wall.

The wall collapsed over the Warrior, and the Royal Pirates rushed in to finish it off.

“It’s fleeing!”

“After it!”

As the Warrior ran, it was suddenly yanked in the opposite direction.

Charigna had wrapped her whip around it and pulled.

She kept the Warrior at a distance where its sickle claws couldn’t reach, observing closely.

“Doesn’t look tasty.”

Charigna’s plump form muttered, and that became the Warrior’s final memory.

The Central Command Warrior nearby sensed it.

The appearance of a powerful enemy triggered a unified reaction in all Central units.

“Krk.”

Lutal, slicing the neck of a struggling Dark Elf at its feet, turned its head.

The Stealth Scout relayed the optimal route to Charigna.

Even in this unfamiliar maze, Lutal was able to fly straight to Charigna.

KUUNG!

As Lutal landed, Charigna sneered and swung her whip.

The whip curved through the air, splitting it apart.

A normal person would have struggled to track it with their eyes, but Lutal easily deflected it with its sickle claws and charged forward using its boosters.

Charigna’s composure vanished in the face of such force and speed.

She hurriedly grabbed the whip’s midsection to attack again, but it was blocked once more.

“Why, you…!”

Charigna tumbled backwards.

Lutal’s Death Blade tore into her fat.

Attacked by the Royal Pirates, Lutal didn’t pursue further and broke away.

“KYAAAAAAH!”

Charigna let out a horrific scream.

It was the agony caused by the death Mana invading her body.

Since Lutal’s objective was to capture Charigna alive, it first eliminated the Royal Pirates.

“You dare…!”

Charigna glared at Lutal with bloodshot eyes and seized one of the Royal Pirates.

“Your Majesty?”

Charigna’s mouth gaped open.

As her jaws extended a full two meters, the Royal Pirate realized his fate.

“N-no, please!”

Charigna swallowed the struggling Royal Pirate whole.

The wounds from the Death Blade healed, and the death Mana was partially neutralized.

“One’s not enough.”

Charigna’s gaze rolled toward the nearby Royal Pirates.

They tried to distance themselves immediately, but the suction from Charigna’s mouth pulled them back.

“I don’t want to be eaten!”

“AAARGH!”

“Please, spare me!”

The Royal Pirates were sucked into her mouth.

Soon, the death Mana vanished.

But it didn’t end there.

Charigna’s Mana surged sharply.

Even Iselin and Dielka, watching Dark City’s invasion from afar, could sense it.

“That’s…”

Iselin furrowed her brow.

It was the same sensation she’d felt in Kraken Sea, now emanating from Charigna.

“That’s supposed to be a Dark Elf?”

Dielka murmured.

Devouring the Royal Pirates so indiscriminately was far beyond the limits of a Dark Elf.

“That’s no longer a Dark Elf.”

“Then what is she?”

“Devil of Devouring.”

“Devil of Devouring…? How did Charigna become that?”

“We’ll know if we catch her.”

Charigna swung her whip wildly.

Saturated with massive amounts of Mana, her surroundings were instantly devastated.

Even Lutal couldn’t afford a direct hit and soared away with boosters.

“Focus all attacks on that woman.”

Choi Kangjoong commanded.

The Titan rotated the barrels of its Mana Cannons at its side.

The Cannon Giant also turned its body.

KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA!

A furious bombardment followed.

A thousand shells rained down every ten seconds, leaving nothing around Charigna.

“Not enough! It’s not enough!”

Charigna poured Mana into her whip, creating a massive Mana Whip.

When she raised her arm and slammed it down, a huge fissure opened in Dark City.

She opened her mouth, and the Dark Elves inside were sucked in.

She even swallowed a passing pirate ship floating above.

Breaking and devouring, Charigna only grew stronger.

“Want to try firing a breath?”

“Kuong.”

Kuongi turned its body and fired a breath.

Charigna thrust out her arm and deployed a Shield.

The breath shattered against the Shield and dispersed.

“Kakakakakaka! Is that all? Try shooting more.”

Charigna burst into hearty laughter.

Her jiggling fat made for an unpleasant sight.

Choi Kangjoong flew toward her.

“So you’re the boss? I can sense you’re connected to them.”

“How did you become the Devil of Devouring?”

“Devil of Devouring, you say. This is a power given to me by him.”

“And who is he?”

“My prince.”

Charigna flicked her whip.

A sharp aura shot forth.

Choi Kangjoong used Stealth Blink to move behind her.

Charigna spun around like lightning.

“You look delicious.”

Charigna opened her mouth.

With an opening wide enough to swallow even a dimensional line, a powerful suction pulled at him.

Choi Kangjoong did not resist.

His body was sucked inside.

“The boss is gone!”

“We’ve won! We did it!”

“Hurry, get rid of these things!”

“Catch those, too! They’ll sell for a high price!”

The Dark Elves cheered, already talking as if they had won.

They knew well that monsters would break apart once their boss was dead.

But the Apocalids, still acting under the will of Outer Mind, continued to devour the Dark Elves, and new entities kept emerging from the Soil Pit.