The Ruin Legion was the strongest among the four Great Demons, including Chaos, Immortality, and Greed, despite having the smallest numbers.
If only combat power was measured, excluding all other factors, they were more than twice as strong as the Greed Legion.
There was a reason Duke Akirif was trying to find combat races specifically for the Greed Legion.
Each of the Demons of Ruin was a powerful warrior.
Even those at the Count level possessed combat power comparable to an S-rank Hunter.
If they fought one-on-one, they would surely lose because they could not use an Aura Blade, but they were not inferior in terms of physical ability or other skills.
There were three such Counts on the Doomwheel, and Marquis Vespira stood above them.
He was a powerful Demon that even Guild Leader Kang Sungpyo, an S-rank Hunter, would find difficult to defeat alone; it would take at least two Hunters of his caliber to take him down.
Even so, Choi Kangjoong did not feel like he would lose.
Even if Marquis Vespira was strong, there was the Brutal Lord in the Apocalid.
The problem was minimizing the losses incurred while fighting the Demons of Ruin.
Because the Demons of Ruin were so strong, the nutrients lost while taking one down were often greater than the nutrients gained from them.
“I can get nutrients from Magic Beasts, but it’s a bit ambiguous.”
In the Dimension War, he would usually whittle them down and supplement nutrients from elsewhere.
If it were his main base, he would just attack without worrying about nutrients and end the game with a victory.
Choi Kangjoong, who had been lying on his bed, suddenly sat up.
He didn’t think any good ideas would come to him just by staying like this.
He might as well just sleep.
“If I take over other sea regions to expand the Apocalid and get more Evolution Codes, a way will open up!”
Choi Kangjoong picked up his Dawnphone and turned on the Black Market Map Iselin had given him.
He deliberately ignored the messages from Choi Yunseo and Han Junghwa.
“Let’s decide where to go first before replying.”
He also had to decide which direction to head in.
To continue Dimensional Devouring in the same direction as before, he had to pass the Doomwheel and travel a distance similar to that of the Separate Sea.
There were several factions there that occupied one or two sea regions.
Beyond that was the territory ruled by Duke Akirif.
“Duke Akirif’s domain is large too.”
Duke Akirif’s domain included five sea regions, and the place where his castle was located was a giant Dimension over 800km wide.
“If I eat all of that, the Apocalid will grow immensely.”
Choi Kangjoong wiped away his drool.
He wanted to devour it, but Duke Akirif’s current power was still overwhelmingly superior.
Duke Akirif also knew a lot about the Apocalid.
“I’ll have to go eat that after I get stronger.”
Choi Kangjoong looked in other directions from the Enterprise Union.
When the direction of the Mana Sun was considered North, the Apocalid Dimension was located to the East.
To the South was the world of the Metra, to the West were small scattered Dimensions, and to the North was a sea region inhabited by Dimensional Monsters.
“It would be better to eat this way first. Humans and Elves need a direction to expand as well.”
Since the East was the direction of the Demons, he had to go West or North.
If the Apocalid devoured every direction, it would be troublesome for the Humans and Elves as well.
“What should I eat first?”
Between the Doomwheel and Duke Akirif’s territory, three races were at war.
They were the Orcs, Elves, and Metra.
Orcs were everywhere, and Elves weren’t only in the Enterprise Union.
The same went for Humans.
“Should I clear out the tasteless Metra first?”
The Metra were a race with metallic bodies, so the nutrients gained from them were relatively low.
“Should I eat the delicious Orcs or Elves first?”
Orcs provided nutrients, and Elves provided many Evolution Points.
“No. Iselin might absorb the Elves here, so should I send Kai to find out?”
“Kiik.”
“Right. Kai is at the Doomwheel right now. Let’s make another Central Unit.”
Choi Kangjoong went to the Apocalid Dimension and summoned a Stealth Scout.
The Stealth Scout was supplied with nutrients and evolved into a Central Unit.
The Central Stealth Scout was a reconnaissance unit, so it didn’t grow very large.
It was slightly smaller than Kai, making it a good size for hiding.
[The Central Stealth Scout learns .]
“What kind of skill is this?”
Choi Kangjoong checked it.
Since he was connected bi-directionally with the Central Stealth Scout, he could understand what it was immediately.
“It’s connected to the scouts at the Doomwheel. It’s quite far from here.”
The Long-range System was a skill that allowed him to control scouts from a long distance.
“Not bad. You’ll be able to scout several sea regions at the same time by yourself.”
“Kiik!”
Kai said that he could do it too.
“Sure, sure.”
Choi Kangjoong gave a casual answer and opened a Gate to move to the next target.
Since he had to open it several times to places where the Apocalid wasn’t present, his Source Energy was drained rapidly.
The sea region where the three races were fighting didn’t even have a name.
The Black Market Map Iselin gave him was written from an Elf’s perspective, so they hadn’t even named the sea regions that were difficult to reach.
“Let’s call them the Orc Sea, Elf Sea, and Metra Sea.”
Choi Kangjoong gave them names lazily.
They were places that would disappear soon anyway.
Arriving at the Metra Dimension on the outskirts, he released the Central Stealth Scout and the regular Stealth Scouts.
They would scout this Dimension and spread out in all directions to gather information.
“I just have to wait.”
Choi Kangjoong summoned a Titan.
It would serve as the base point for opening Gates, and he filled it with Apocalid units to support the Central Stealth Scout just in case.
The rest escorted the Apocalid Dimension as it moved from the Separate Sea to the Enterprise Union.
“Quite a few flies have gathered.”
Everything from things sent by Duke Akirif to Dimension Ships from unknown origins and even Dimensional Monsters followed them.
Even though they devoured every Dimensional Monster they saw, more kept appearing from somewhere.
If their numbers increased, the Central Command Giant would suppress them with the Apocalid Field and Kuongi would swallow them up, so there was nothing to worry about.
“Let’s see what messages came.”
First, he checked the messages sent by Choi Yunseo.
[Choi Yunseo : ?????????]
[Choi Yunseo : ????????????????]
[Choi Yunseo : Did you trick me? –]
[Choi Yunseo : I really want to swear at you so much, but since both you and Mom and Dad helped me, I’ll endure it. Seriously.]
[Choi Yunseo : No.]
[Choi Yunseo : Just tell me one thing.]
[Choi Yunseo : What did you think of me when you first saw me as the Outer Mind?]
[Choi Yunseo : ????????????]
[Choi Yunseo : Hurry up –]
“The reaction is better than I thought. What should I send back?”
After much deliberation, Choi Kangjoong sent a reply.
[Choi Kangjoong : Just a weak and pathetic human mage.]
[Choi Yunseo : What??????]
[Choi Yunseo : I’m not weak and I’m not pathetic. –]
[Choi Kangjoong : I’ll stop saying that once you become the youngest S-Class mage.]
[Choi Yunseo : Why all of a sudden?]
[Choi Yunseo : Ah.]
[Choi Yunseo : Ah.]
[Choi Yunseo : Ah.]
[Choi Yunseo : No, Brother, are you crazy?]
[Choi Yunseo : Why would you register me as S-Class!!!!!!!!!]
“This is the best part.”
Choi Kangjoong chuckled.
He thought the feeling of a fish biting a hook probably felt something like this.
Next was Han Junghwa.
[Han Junghwa : I heard something strange from Yunseo.]
[Han Junghwa : She said that the Outer Mind is you, Kangjoong.]
[Han Junghwa : Is it true?]
[Han Junghwa : Outer Mind.]
[Han Junghwa : Kangjoong.]
Choi Kangjoong decided to be honest.
[Choi Kangjoong : It’s true.]
[Choi Kangjoong : I didn’t tell her because I wanted to tease her.]
[Han Junghwa : Yunseo is having a fit right now, is it because of you, Kangjoong?]
Choi Kangjoong explained the situation.
[Han Junghwa : LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
Han Junghwa informed him that Choi Yunseo had gone to the magic training ground and was casting magic like crazy.
[Han Junghwa : I see why you did that.]
[Han Junghwa : So, what should I call you now?]
[Choi Kangjoong : Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.]
[Han Junghwa : Since you were originally a person, I’ll call you Kangjoong.]
[Han Junghwa : Thank you for helping again this time.]
[Han Junghwa : I’ll buy you dinner at least ten times.]
[Han Junghwa : Come to think of it, I wondered if you even had a mouth when you were in your Outer Mind form.]
[Han Junghwa : That worked out well.]
[Han Junghwa : Let’s see each other in your human form next time.]
Han Junghwa’s messages stopped.
It seemed she had work to do or another Dimensional Monster had appeared.
“Yunseo and Han Junghwa are sorted. I guess the messages will stop for a while now?”
Choi Kangjoong turned on his phone.
After it vibrated incessantly for a moment with notifications that had arrived while it was off, it finally quieted down.
Choi Kangjoong looked through his texts.
There were more scouting offers from Guilds than thank-you messages from relatives.
There were Guilds he knew well, as well as places he had never seen before.
“Joo Eun-jong sent one too.”
It was a long message saying he wanted to repay the favor and to please contact him.
He didn’t have the confidence to reply to such a long message, nor did he feel like calling.
Unless they met by chance, he had no intention of calling first and getting involved with the noisy Joo Eun-jong.
“Let’s do it later.”
Choi Kangjoong spent his time as usual while waiting for the reconnaissance results.
He went out to exercise or engaged in Sparring with a Warrior.
Some things had changed.
Since he had revealed his identity as the Outer Mind, he no longer needed to go to the Association to dispose of Mana Stones.
If he contacted the Association, someone would come to weigh the Mana Stones and exchange them for cash.
“This is convenient.”
Before long, the Stealth Scouts spread throughout all three sea regions.
The Central Stealth Scout compiled the information and delivered it to Choi Kangjoong.
“The Elves are a bit strange.”
The Elves in the Elf Sea were the same race as the Elves of Marsala, but their culture and style were very different.
While the Elves of Marsala had a rigid and elegant feel, the Elves of the Elf Sea were free-spirited and frivolous.
“They seem closer to Dark Elves than the Elves of Marsala. Or maybe the Elves of Marsala are the unusual ones.”
Choi Kangjoong sent the Central Stealth Scout to the Elf Sea to observe in more detail.
There was no system of marriage at all, and meetings and breakups were casual.
Gluttony was common, and gambling dens and arenas were scattered everywhere.
Drugs were treated as luxury goods.
However, the drugs were a bit different from the ones he had seen in the Kraken Sea.
They contained a sticky yet familiar energy.
He had the Central Stealth Scout dismantle one of the drugs that was smoked like a cigarette.
“Is this Demonic Energy?”
Tracing the route of the drugs with the Stealth Scout showed that most of them flowed out from Duke Akirif’s domain.
“It seems the entire Elf Sea is contaminated by Demonic Energy….”
Choi Kangjoong asked Iselin through the necklace.
-The Elves there are no different from servants of the Demons. They might be called Elves now, but if Duke Akirif puts his mind to it, all those Elves will turn into Demons or Magic Beasts.
“Is the Metra in the same state?”
-It is no different. We have already given up on the Metra near the Enterprise Union. Is that your next target?
“I’m planning to.”
-It would be the same as removing future Demons and Magic Beasts. However, Duke Akirif will not sit idly by.
“If he doesn’t sit idly by, I’ll just eat everything.”
It was difficult to face his entire strength, including Duke Akirif’s main base, but he could easily swallow something like an expeditionary force.
-If that happens, Duke Akirif might pull troops from the Doomwheel, which could weaken the Doomwheel’s forces.
“Does Duke Akirif have that much authority?”
-Duke Akirif provides 30% of the Doomwheel’s operating costs.
“He’s practically a major shareholder then.”
-Since you’re planning to devour that place, we can move up the schedule for forming the raid party.
“Removing that place only brings good things then.”
-That place is no different from the Demon Realm.
“It won’t matter if I swallow it then.”
A week later, the Apocalid Dimension that had started from the Separate Sea finally merged with the main Apocalid Dimension.
Choi Kangjoong moved to the Titan he had left alone and summoned all the Apocalid units.
As the Apocalid suddenly appeared, the Mana fluctuated.
An Apocalid wave, far stronger than the one that had occurred in the Ma Woo Sea, spread out.
Everything in the Orc Sea, Elf Sea, and Metra Sea was overwhelmed by an unknown anxiety and fear.
Communication between Dimensions was cut off, and the random generation of Gates was blocked.
“Let’s go.”
The Apocalid began to move.