The Giant Dimension Kraken was a world unto itself.
Countless Dimension Krakens lived on the giant kraken’s surface and even inside its body.
Even more symbiotic creatures were everywhere.
Some of the Giant Dimension Kraken’s many eyes rotated.
A few were still facing its legs.
The Giant Dimension Kraken’s legs extended over 200 kilometers, trying to coil around a large dimension.
“At that size, it wouldn’t swallow a dimension ship—it would swallow a dimension whole.”
If that monster appeared in a dimension where life had only recently settled, there would be no escape from destruction.
Even if there were a few S-Rank Awakeners, how could they defeat a 100-kilometer monster?
You could only drive it away after reaching the stage of constructing hundreds or thousands of dimension ships and expanding into other dimensions.
Symbiotic creatures slid down the Giant Dimension Kraken’s legs.
Insect-like and fish-like things splattered into the dimension.
The Giant Dimension Kraken lost interest in Choi Kangjoong.
A single small entity was neither a threat nor prey.
Only a few small Dimension Krakens approached.
Choi Kangjoong felt the terror of the species living in that dimension. Mostly humans, with some elves and goblins.
‘This kind of thing must happen often in the Dimensional Sea.’
With the Skyeye Giant’s eyes, he could read the expressions of the humans and elves in that dimension.
Even though they were incredibly far from the Enterprise Union, they weren’t much different from the Union’s humans and elves.
Other aspects were similar too.
Humans and elves lived together.
The reason they didn’t fight over race differences was because of the monsters in the Dimensional Sea.
With bizarre-looking external enemies, it was natural for races with similar appearances to band together.
“Could they enter Marsala or Earth?”
He had talked with Iselin about a similar topic before.
Back then, Iselin had said it ultimately came down to profit.
What use would it be to accept a race from a world that made swords by hand and carved bows from wood?
Craftsmen would become unemployed, fall to the lower class, and be treated as outcasts.
Cultural and perceptual differences were also a problem.
The first generation of immigrants would never blend in smoothly, whether with democracy or the Marsala-style caste system.
So it was mostly a loss for both them and the organization that accepted them.
The Dark Elves of Marsala were a special case.
If not for the powerful Demon Realm, and if Iselin and Dielka hadn’t suppressed and resolved all sorts of noise, the Dark Elf settlement wouldn’t have even started.
That was why even when discovering small worlds, non-intervention observation was the default.
In other words, leaving them alone to avoid trouble.
“I don’t know. Let’s eat first. There can’t be two dimensional devourers in the Dimensional Sea.”
Choi Kangjoong summoned Kuongi and the Dark Eater.
The predatory instincts of the two Apocalids, who had found prey, surged.
Blood flow quickened and combat hormones spread throughout their bodies.
The smaller Apocalids were stimulated, and the hibernating Apocalids opened their eyes.
Flying Apocalids poured out of the side holes all at once.
Only then did the Giant Dimension Kraken show interest.
Still, it didn’t withdraw its legs reaching toward the Dimensional Sea.
Because the two suddenly appearing creatures weren’t even half its size.
It only sent two legs and numerous Dimension Krakens.
An enormous amount of mana gathered inside Kuongi.
Kuongi opened its mouth and fired Lightning Breath.
Kwaaaaaa!
The breath shot in a straight line and struck the Giant Dimension Kraken’s body. A flash spread, and Dimension Krakens and symbiotic creatures flew in all directions.
The Giant Dimension Kraken didn’t suffer a single wound, even after being hit by a large-dimensional weapon.
Because it had a shield as powerful as its size.
“For a big monster to live long, it needs strong defense.”
Choi Kangjoong summoned all Super Titans and Titans.
Kuongi controlled the Apocalids.
The Super Titan fired its breath, while Titans and Light Titans lined up horizontally and shot Mana Cannons and Chitin Cannons.
“Not waking Lutal?”
“Kuong.”
Kuongi replied that it would be a waste of nutrients.
“Lutal does use a lot of nutrients. Enough for one breath attack for a minute of movement?”
“Kuong.”
Kuongi said it was more than that.
Especially the nutrients consumed by Death Blade and Booster operation were enormous.
“I’ll have to look for an Evolution Code that improves nutrient efficiency.”
“Kuong.”
Kuongi agreed enthusiastically.
Choi Kangjoong sat on Kuongi’s head and watched the battle.
The dimension attacked by the Giant Dimension Kraken was generally peaceful.
At one time, humans and elves had enslaved each other and fought, but now they got along well due to the goblins scattered throughout the dimension, the orcs that appeared through gates, and the swarming dimension monsters.
That was why human and elf children didn’t believe the old man’s words.
“In the Dimensional Sea, there are monsters bigger than our world.”
“Liar! Even adults say it takes three days to go from one end of the world to the other. Where’s a monster bigger than that?”
“I saw it myself. It was a day when my net came up empty, so I went out very, very far.”
The dimensional fisherman and explorer, the old man, described a giant bird that burned an entire dimension.
He had caught a glimpse of it through his telescope by chance.
The children didn’t believe him.
Because the old man was famous among adults as a liar.
“Even if such a monster appears, I’ll defeat it!”
“It would be hard even for you.”
“Chailen can do it!”
“Right. Chailen can defeat it.”
“Grandpa, stop lying!”
The old man laughed heartily.
It was better for monsters bigger than dimensions to remain as tall tales rather than reality.
Then one day, a giant shadow covered the dimension.
The Giant Dimension Kraken approached within visible distance.
Only then did everyone—not just the children—believe.
That in the Dimensional Sea, there were monsters bigger than worlds.
“We have to fight! Everyone who can move, pick up a weapon!”
“Can we even stop it with that…?”
“Stop talking nonsense and move the supplies!”
Even the children stepped up to fight.
The adults took away the children’s weapons and sent them out into the Dimensional Sea with the supplies.
They would drift without a destination, but their chances of survival were higher than staying in the dimension.
“Kieeek!”
“Kiiik!”
Even goblins rushed out of their caves.
It was a perfect opportunity to attack humans and elves.
It was a disaster on top of a disaster.
The dimension ship carrying the children and helpless old men was a sea of tears.
The Boastful Old Man stared blankly at the Giant Dimension Kraken.
The child named Chailen held back tears and glared at the dimension where the battle was taking place.
“Was that the monster you saw, Grandpa?”
“No. That was a bird. All its feathers were made of flames.”
“So there are more monsters like that.”
“Yes. Like that one.”
Suddenly, other monsters appeared.
A battle between monsters broke out.
The Boastful Old Man and Chailen covered their eyes from the intense flash.
“I need to increase speed.”
The old man, also an excellent navigator, adjusted the sails below.
The dimension ship accelerated, catching the flow of mana.
Even so, Chailen didn’t take her eyes off the battle.
“Grandpa, have you ever seen a monster that doesn’t eat humans?”
“No. We’re good prey.”
“Then why is it doing that?”
Chailen pointed at the dimension.
Where the dark-colored monster had swept through, humans and elves stood dazed.
The Boastful Old Man had to rub his eyes and look again.
“A monster that only eats goblins and monsters. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
The battle ended not long after.
The Giant Dimension Kraken had vanished without a trace.
Not only the numerous Dimension Krakens but even the goblins that lived underground were gone.
The humans and elves tensed, certain they were next.
But the monster that had eaten the monsters simply disappeared.
If there had been no trace of the battle or the Giant Dimension Kraken enveloping the dimension, they would have dismissed it all as a shared dream.
After the terror passed, bewilderment and relief settled in, and the children returned to the dimension.
They learned about the monster-eating monster only after a dimension ship carrying Marsalan Dark Elf explorers arrived.
—
After eating the Giant Dimension Kraken and returning home, Choi Kangjoong immediately entered the Evolution Chamber.
He planned to synthesize Evolution Codes for the first time in a while.
“I’ll synthesize three at once: Environmental Adaptation, Flame Absorption, and Cold Utilization.”
[You are synthesizing Environmental Adaptation, Flame Absorption, and Cold Utilization with 300 million Evolution Points.]
Synthesizing three at once required far more Evolution Codes than before.
On the table, the icons of the three Evolution Codes sank into the table.
[Extracting Homeostasis and Body Adaptation from Environmental Adaptation.]
[Extracting Fire Resistance and Heat Conversion from Flame Absorption.]
[Extracting Freeze Resistance and Cold Utilization from Cold Utilization.]
[The Psionic Combat Nerve intervenes in the Evolution Code synthesis.]
[Source Energy imbues the new Evolution Code.]
[Environmental Adaptation, Flame Absorption, and Cold Utilization are synthesized into Extreme Evolution.]
“Extreme Evolution?”
Choi Kangjoong had never seen that Evolution Code before.
Even without seeing or hearing an explanation of what kind of Evolution Code it was, the information automatically came to mind.
“It’s an Evolution Code that allows activity in any extreme environment. It’s even stronger thanks to Mineral Accumulation.”
The Apocalids’ Chitin Gauntlets had accumulated minerals, making them tougher.
Thanks to that, the Chitin Gauntlets could withstand environments over hundreds of degrees without melting.
But even with that, the insides would cook and they’d still die.
The Extreme Evolution Evolution Code absorbed heat and converted it into energy, preventing the insides from cooking.
The opposite was also true.
It evolved to prevent heat loss even in environments of minus 100 degrees Celsius.
Instead, it used heat circulation to generate Source Energy, which it used as energy for muscles.
“Now I can fight without worrying about temperature.”
Even if an enemy created a firestorm or blizzard, the Apocalids could move vigorously and continue their predatory activities.
Just as Choi Kangjoong was about to consume some nutrients, Dielka contacted him through the Central Stealth Scout.
-Lord Outer! Duselduf is about to find the gate connected near the Union! Come here if you want a detailed explanation.
Drawn by the advertisement-like words, Choi Kangjoong moved to Dielka’s office.
Dielka, dressed casually since she was at home, sat with her legs crossed.
“Lord Outer! Long time no see here, right?”
Dielka waved her hand.
“It’s been a few months.”
“You only ever go visit the Queen. Come here often too. Isn’t this place more comfortable than the Queen’s office?”
The room, with a full view of the garden through floor-to-ceiling windows, had a free atmosphere.
It felt different from Iselin’s formal and neatly arranged office.
“It is comfortable.”
“Right? Look at this too.”
Dielka held out the Black Market Map.
“There are gates connected here and here.”
Dielka pointed near Magrain and near the Enterprise Union.
“Duselduf’s Gate Scout Team is searching near the Magrain gate. They’ll find it soon.”
“How did you know?”
“Dark Elf explorers have already searched most areas near the Enterprise Union. But this gate is in a bad spot for us.”
Dimension Fortress 1 was between the Giant Iant Colony and the Union, and Dimension Fortress 2 was much farther south.
The gate Dielka pointed to was exactly between the two Dimension Fortresses.
“So if we close this gate or open another one, we can lure those guys to a spot advantageous to us.”
“You don’t know I can open gates, do you?”
“Of course I do!”
“Not bad.”
Choi Kangjoong looked at the Black Market Map, searching for where to lead Duselduf.