194 The Demon Lord Speaks

'Excellent.'

The earth dragon, Gakia, collapses.

'That's my line.'

It was excellent.

Despite the overwhelming disparity in power, Gakia and the earth dragons had managed to hold me here.

Even excluding the special opponent currently engaged in combat, it had been a long time since I had been forced into direct confrontation with such difficulty.

'As intended.'

The light fades from Gakia's eyes.

A dragon that had lived for centuries ends its life.

I observe Gakia's fallen corpse.

I had not particularly interacted with Gakia.

Yet, the fact that an ancient dragon had perished evokes a sentiment I cannot name.

Another old existence has vanished.

And it was by my hand—making it all the more so.

I shake off this pointless sentiment.

There is something I must do now.

First, consume the remains of the young dragon. Then, the other eight as well.

Due to moving through the lower layers, the remains of the dragons that fell along the way are scattered in places.

It's troublesome, but I must collect them all and eat them thoroughly.

Leaving any behind violates my principles.

Wait.

Something's off.

Did I ever have such a principle?

Hmm?

Well, whatever.

No.

That's not good.

This is not good.

There were signs.

But never before has my thought process shifted so overtly.

Since when?

No—of course.

While being held back by the earth dragon.

The one I am currently opposing.

It is the first threat I have ever experienced in my long life.

I have lived long.

In this world, I should be second only to Lady Seriel and Gurye in lifespan.

Throughout my long existence, I have endured experiences akin to death on many occasions.

I was not particularly exceptional. Before being rescued by Lady Seriel, I lived on the brink of death.

Even after being rescued by Lady Seriel, I faced death multiple times. Surviving was due only to luck.

Even during the system's early phase, I repeatedly encountered crises.

I nearly died at the hands of monsters created by the system, nearly killed by humans and demons, pursued by elves.

I overcame these dangers. Over time, I became one of the oldest divine beasts.

By the system's mechanism—growing stronger with every battle.

Irony, I suppose.

Among my companions, I was among the weakest, alongside Gobgob. Now, I possess power comparable to the world's strongest.

But I have fought countless battles to earn this strength.

Reviewing my combat history, this enemy was different.

Feeding directly into the soul, devoured.

As if the very acts of gods spoken of in legend.

Only Guriel could perform such a thing in this world, I believed.

There was unease.

The demeanor of my subordinates felt slightly unnatural.

Yet I ignored it.

After all, they were merely pawns.

A slight defect was acceptable if they remained usable.

That was my thinking.

It was around this time that Guriel brought word of a reincarnated being from beyond the realm.

They were victims. And per the directive of Administrator D, intervention was to be avoided if possible.

I did not imagine, at that time, that this would affect me so deeply.

The reincarnated being was still young. I had assumed years of leeway before any involvement.

Naive.

I never imagined one among them would attempt to seize control of my subordinates.

Nor did I expect the target of their intent to be me as well.

By the time he realized it, the soul had already taken possession.

And slowly, consumed.

An attack unlike any previously experienced.

The discomfort of one's existence being consumed from the roots.

Even if attempting resistance, the battlefield—due to the unfamiliarity of the soul as an arena—only allows for minimal time delay.

I have fought a user of Heretic Magic on several occasions.

That too is a magic that acts upon the soul.

But then, a countermeasure is possible.

All that is required is to kill the mage physically.

But this one is different.

The original body is not nearby.

I searched for its true body.

Reverse-engineer the connection bound to the soul.

This is the first time doing something like this. The skill does not possess such an ability.

That was not a matter of certainty.

A sense of presence, vague but undeniable, lingered there.

She had set her course for the Elrow Great Labyrinth for no greater reason than that.

As a result, I heard rumors of a spider-like monster referred to as a divine beast midway through my journey, and ended up confronting it.

I had anticipated this, given that our souls were connected.

It was my familiar—a specimen that had evolved abnormally, far beyond intended parameters.

Why had such an irregularity occurred?

Ironically, it was because the entity possessing it had advanced in its corruption, forcing understanding.

A reincarnated being from another realm.

And the administrator D was involved.

Worst possible outcome.

The very entity Gyulie had declared was beyond my interference.

Yet, if I had done nothing, I would have been consumed.

And so, I killed it.

I had killed it, at least.

Yet, the entity still clung to my soul.

And I vaguely sensed, through the connection of our souls, that its physical body had not perished.

Uncertain of what to do, he first eliminated the former subordinates whose location was clearly established and had been seized.

It should have been settled.

Yet, it appeared to have resurrected once more in a different location, unharmed.

I do not understand the meaning.

I have lived long, but this is the first time I have encountered such an unjust opponent.

Unable to determine what to do, on the verge of tears—then came the final blow from the Earth Dragon.

And so to the present.

The situation was near its worst.

I cannot even be certain whether I am truly maintaining myself.

Yet, she did not feel much anxiety.

Nothing but a carefree thought surfaced: something along the lines of, "It’ll work out somehow."

The personality itself might be changing, eroded from within.

I am merely aware of being myself—perhaps already consumed entirely.

Still, I find myself thinking it's fine—my own self, I find terrifying.

There is no point in thinking about it.

It seems there is no option in me to refrain from consuming the earth dragon.

My stomach is empty, and considering the effects of gluttony, consuming it would be factually advantageous.

No need to hesitate, then.

"Thank you for the meal."

A response came to my muttered words.

Gyuri stood facing me, expression strained.