South Korea’s hidden power had appeared not only in the United States but also in Russia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.
In truth, contrary to what Leon had explained, the objective was to prevent the Demon Clan from growing stronger.
Currently, the countries with the highest distribution of Evolution Potions in the world were the ones mentioned above.
Consequently, the Demon Clan had invaded them and devoured the Awakeners who had consumed the Evolution Potions to facilitate their own evolution and reinforce their military strength.
While only a small number had been eaten so far and the number of evolved individuals remained low, the situation would surely be reversed if left unchecked.
Their strength would far exceed that of the existing Demon Clan.
Therefore, a decision had to be made.
I would help the nations that had been hostile to me, to South Korea.
Of course, the superficial reason was to help humanity, just as Leon had said.
For this purpose, Leon was dispatched to the United States, where the largest number of demon forces had participated in the war.
Furthermore, my disciples, who had received my teachings, spread out to each of those countries.
Although they were not at the same level as Leon, they had reached the realm of being called swordsmen.
Moreover, with the sword formations I had taught them — formations that amplified each other’s power — no ordinary existence could withstand them unless they were someone like Nepas, Altain, or a high-ranking demon.
In fact, it was the influence of these sword formations that had allowed the Asran Kingdom to overthrow the Galas Empire despite being outnumbered.
As if recreating the past, they pressured the demon army’s overwhelming power with a small number of elite troops.
If I had participated in the war, the situation would have changed again.
However, I was not currently opposing the Demon Clan’s invasion.
-Step
The place where I was currently walking was Ireland.
It was the ill-fated nation that was the first to reach destruction due to the demon invasion.
It was also the region that Nepas had requested to be recognized as demon territory.
Naturally, the fact that a human had visited such a place was enough to stir the surroundings.
“Thump, thud!”
I could confirm that a massive number of monsters were swarming nearby.
“Kirrk!”
“Kyaaaah —”
They were monsters guarding their territory.
However, unlike normal monsters, they did not pounce immediately.
Well, it made sense.
‘The Legion Commander’s traces must still be lingering.’
Although I was not emitting Magical Power, the remnants of the Undead Legion Commander still remained within me.
Those who instinctively smelled those remnants were reluctant to approach.
As if there were an invisible line, they did not dare to step inside.
A primary instinct more powerful than anything else was preventing them from approaching.
Thanks to that.
-Step, step.
I was able to move forward, accompanied by these creatures in a strange coexistence.
‘This should be enough to let them know I’m here.’
As I continued forward, I finally saw the person I had come to visit.
“Welcome.”
In front of me stood a handsome, blond man.
In a way, his appearance could be said to closely resemble Leon’s.
Through that appearance, I could catch a glimpse of the perfect species that Nepas dreamed of.
“Altain?”
At my question, he replied, “That is correct.”
“…I see.”
It was a short conversation, but through it, I was able to grasp many things.
‘The fact that he came out instead of Nepas… that must mean every hypothesis I’ve had until now was correct.’
Altain’s confident demeanor was, in every way, the attitude of a master welcoming a guest.
Until just a short while ago, the master of this place was Nepas, not him.
Yet, the fact that he was acting as the master meant that he had become the new owner of this land.
Furthermore.
-Sss
Even without intending to, his momentum naturally radiated outward.
From that.
‘Nepas’s essence is mixed in.’
Having watched Nepas for a long time, I could tell for certain.
Inside Altain, Nepas’s existence was included.
‘Does he also have the power to absorb targets like Nepas?’
Nepas was a slime by birth.
His unique authority was to absorb an opponent and take their abilities as his own.
Originally, the abilities he could take were bound to be weak, but through time travel, he could absorb the same target multiple times to fully incorporate their power and abilities.
But this man, Altain.
‘Even if he has slime genes, how could he do this?’
I couldn’t help but wonder.
For Nepas’s traces to remain so strongly in the aura he naturally emitted.
Wasn’t that a realm that only Nepas, who was capable of time travel, could reach?
“I heard about you from him,” he said in an insensitive tone.
It was a lack of emotion that made it feel as if I were looking at my past self.
“Heard what?”
It was obvious that the person he referred to as ‘him’ was Nepas.
“That you are an existence difficult to grasp. That you are close to the most ideal species he could imagine. That by striving to realize you, one could get closer to becoming a perfect species.”
To Nepas, I was a dream.
The existence closest to a perfect species.
And Altain’s impression upon seeing me was…
“I think I can certainly understand why he showed so much interest and obsession.”
It was a positive assessment in its own way.
Of course, his evaluation didn’t matter to me.
“Based on your words, it seems you’ve finished off Nepas.”
Silence followed, but silence was an affirmation.
“I didn’t expect Nepas to be defeated. Of course, that one wouldn’t be all of him.”
Nepas had been defeated.
To be precise, it would be correct to say that the one Nepas who was here had been defeated.
He had separated his life and spread it in various places.
Therefore, the death of the Nepas here did not mean his total annihilation.
However, I didn’t know there was anyone other than myself who could finish off even a part of Nepas.
Thus, I gazed at Altain with renewed curiosity.
Then.
‘This is…?’
Insight Eye, which had become highly developed, told me the truth.
“Ingram, the Legion Commander, and Belmond…?”
Surprisingly, I could feel the energy of individuals I knew.
It was an energy I had felt only once in my entire life, from only one person.
Nepas.
Only he, who was capable of time travel, could reach such a realm by moving through various timelines and absorbing various beings.
Yet now, the Altain before my eyes was emitting the same power and energy as Nepas.
He was doing so blatantly, as if wanting his existence to be recognized.
“As expected!” Altain clapped his hands as if in admiration.
“To be able to look deep into my existence… as expected of the insight belonging to the one he chose. You realized it at once.”
“…How is that possible?”
I didn’t care about his praise.
I was just curious.
How could he reach that unique domain that only Nepas, the time traveler, could possess?
“The answer is simple. It is because I, too, am a time traveler.”
At that moment, I was left speechless.
“…What?”
A time traveler.
As far as I knew, that was an authority granted only to Nepas.
But now, suddenly, there was another time traveler?
Had Nepas devised a way for others to travel through time besides himself?
“You have a face full of questions. But everything you’re predicting is wrong. I… absorbed the unique authority of the Twisted One.”
That was equally surprising.
‘He absorbed the unique authority of the Twisted One?’
That was something even Nepas had found impossible.
If that were possible, he would have already become an unknown existence by absorbing the unique abilities of myself, Belmond, and others.
But knowing it was impossible, he had devised a strategy to utilize us rather than absorb us.
Yet now, that impossibility had been turned into a possibility.
And not by Nepas, but by the existence he created, Altain.
“That’s possible…?”
I breathed out a question at the unexpected information.
I had no choice, because it wasn’t a lie.
No matter how many genes Nepas had injected, he couldn’t emit such a vivid lingering scent of existence.
This man had truly traveled through time like Nepas, absorbing various people and gaining their power.
It was an exception I hadn’t even considered.
‘He’s strong.’
I knew Altain was strong.
But I thought his level would be similar to Leon’s, or perhaps slightly below.
But no.
He had gained power beyond Leon.
It was only natural, as he had absorbed various strong individuals existing in each era and took their power completely.
“Originally, my main body was a Vampire.”
Then, Altain began to tell a deeper story.
“Among a Vampire’s unique abilities, there is the act of sucking an opponent’s blood to absorb their abilities to some degree.”
I knew that.
Although they couldn’t absorb abilities as completely as a slime, Vampires absorbed strength through blood.
“Through him, this unique ability evolved. To the point where I could absorb the authority of the Twisted One.”
Surprisingly, Altain was capable of blood-sucking that could absorb even the authority of the Twisted One, which had been considered impossible until now.
Which meant…
“I have traveled through countless times and absorbed strong individuals. The current me is not the existence that he or you think I am. Truly, a perfect species. The only existence!”
“Rumble!”
A storm of immense power that had been hidden until now came crashing down.
-Skrrr
The force was enough to push my body back and it was a mighty power that far exceeded my expectations.
“He and you were both wrong. I am the most perfect species. The only key that can reach the unknown.”
It was clearly Altain’s voice, but at the same time, it felt as if I could hear the voices of various beings within it.
All of them were living and breathing inside him.
He was…
‘A collective of life.’
He was an exceptional species that had never existed before, created by the merger of all those lives.
“I know why you visited this place.”
“…”
“It was likely to check on the state of Nepas and to declare war on us demons.”
Had he even absorbed Nepas’s knowledge?
Though not long had passed since his birth, his insight and schemes were deep.
Even more so than Leon, who was being taught by me.
“But how is it? What do you feel after seeing me?”
“Beyond expectation. More than I assumed.”
That was the highest praise I could give.
“So, I would like to make a proposal.”
And the man who received that praise made a proposal to me.
“I am different from him, from Nepas. Without any conspiracies, I intend to live in this territory together with the demons. A perfect species? I have no interest in such mad experiments. I will simply live and prosper in the territory given to me, so please take your interest away from us.”
It was closer to a half-threat than a proposal.
It had to be.
He possessed power.
Even the power visible right now surpassed mine.
He was a powerhouse and a powerhouse has the right to decide everything.
Even so, he was making a proposal to me.
“If you do that, there will be no reason for me to be angry. I will live peacefully with the demons in this place given to me. Without any war or need to shed blood.”
From those words, I could realize one fact.
‘He’s sincere.’
He had no interest in the dream Nepas had tried to achieve.
He was simply saying he would live a peaceful life with the demons here, in their own way.
“I don’t care if we make any oaths or promises for this. I just…”
“…Are you saying you want to live?”
“That’s right.”
It was certainly understandable.
He was born as an experimental subject and was destined to be used as one.
However, he had displayed an amazing survival instinct, which allowed him to reach this point.
Despite having enough power to wage war, he said he would live by being satisfied with what was given to him.
“If you accept this proposal, I will withdraw the troops from each country immediately, and we will live in our own world.”
He spoke to me with sincerity.
“I understand your sincerity.”
And there was only one answer I could give.