Although Kyung had been quite strong back then, “Cough, cough!”
Shimun coughed, overwhelmed by a strength almost equal to that time. After all, Kyung’s true form was that of a top-rank dragon among the dragonic species.
Even though precious materials and the Bull Demon King’s divinity were used, it wasn’t a strength that a child of Shiyeon’s age should possess.
However, the child seemed completely unaware of his own strength.
“Appa! Appa!”
Hugging Shimun’s waist tightly, the child was shaking his head incessantly and burrowing into his embrace.
“…….”
Shimun found himself speechless once again. And for good reason.
‘He… looks so much like me…’
The photo albums that Shihyuk might be holding. This child was about 80% identical to his own childhood photos that might be in those albums.
Of course, ‘There are some differences though…’
Probably due to the Bull Demon King’s divinity, his features were about 15% more pronounced and he had 5% sharp horns.
‘But still, he almost looks the same!’
He was almost indistinguishably similar to his younger self. Especially being a boy filled with his own blood, even more so than Shiyeon, who he had always thought resembled him.
Then, “Appa?”
The innocent voice snapped Shimun out of his thoughts.
Was it because of the Bull Demon King’s divinity?
The child, with bright, sparkling eyes that resembled those of a cow, looked up at him.
“Ah… well…”
Shimun, momentarily flustered, tried to say something.
Swoosh.
“Hmm?”
From the center of his chest, where the Philosopher’s Stone resided, his Dragon Force suddenly activated.
Wooong.
It seeped into the rounded horns nearby. The homunculus of the Bull Demon King. Or rather, the child who called him “Appa.”
The sharp horns of the child who hugged Shimun tightly absorbed the energy.
Then,
『The first unbound dragonic species, demon Dragon, requests binding.』
『Will you accept? (Yes / No)』
A message popped up requesting a binding.
The first binding? What’s that?
Though curious, he did not question it.
‘Just like with Kyung.’
His first created dragonic species, the Faerie Dragon. When Kyung was born, contact led to a similar binding request.
As Shimun chose ‘Yes’ without hesitation.
Wooong.
Just like the color of the Bull Demon King’s divinity, a white beam shot from the child’s sharp horns and entered the center of Shimun’s chest, where the Philosopher’s Stone resided.
“Ah!”
Just like when he first bound with the Faerie Dragon, Kyung, Knowledge and elements of the Demon Dragon species he created began engraving themselves into his soul.
However, there was a difference from when he bound with Kyung.
『The conditions for binding with this species are not met.』
‘The conditions aren’t met?’
The binding process wasn’t completing perfectly.
Then,
『The characteristic ‘Stigma’ seeks another direction for binding with the species.』
『The title ‘Dragon God’ seeks another direction for binding with the species.』
Both the Stigma and the title Dragon God, began spreading throughout Shimun’s entire body, searching for another method.
Sleek.
“Hmm?”
A similar process extended to the child who resembled Shimun so much.
“Why? What’s lacking?”
The child seemed visibly disappointed by the incomplete binding. His eyes, like those of a cow, filled with anxiety.
But just then,
“Oh! Appa doesn’t have my energy?”
The child’s face brightened with a smile as he looked at Shimun.
“Energy?”
Shimun tilted his head in confusion, but there was no time to ask further.
“Then… I’ll give it to Appa!”
With a determined nod and a judgment made on his own, the child concentrated a white energy between his sharp horns just like during the binding process.
Wooong.
And then,
Ssssss.
The white energy traveled along the connected bond to Shimun’s chest, where the Philosopher’s Stone was.
This unfamiliar energy, ‘What is this energy…?’
Shimun was momentarily puzzled but only for a moment.
『You have come into contact with high-level Demon Energy.』
『The characteristic Philosopher’s Stone responds to this demonic energy.』
As the child had called it, the ‘demonic energy’ wrapped around the Philosopher’s Stone.
And just like other types of energy before,
『You have acquired the stat Demon Energy (妖力).』
『Due to the influence of the Philosopher’s Stone, Demon Energy is integrated to your Alchemy Energy.』
The Demon Energy became integrated into his Alchemy Energy.
Upon that realization,
‘Demon Energy…?’
Shimun showed a bit of surprise. And it made sense.
‘Demon Energy is the unique energy of yokais, isn’t it?’
Demonic energy was the power unique to yokais, though akin to Draconic Energy, it leaned more towards demonic or divine energy.
While it was classified as a special stat that some players could attain, it was extremely esoteric and hard to grasp.
Ordinary people couldn’t make sense of it. Just like dimensional or spiritual energy, it was one of those energies that could only be utilized by those inherently gifted.
As he thought more about it,
‘I see now.’
Wooong!
Shimun nodded his head slowly as the increasing Demon Energy proportionally filled his alchemy energy.
‘The Bull Demon King was the leader of the Seven Great Constellations. To bind with a homunculus possessing his divinity, Demon Energy was required.’
It finally made sense why the system mentioned the conditions weren’t met.
With the newly acquired demonic energy, the condition was now satisfied.
『The trait Stigma responds to the binding with the dragonic species.』
The Stigma trait reacted, speeding up the remaining binding process. The moment his soul and the child’s soul were completely connected,
『You have bound a new dragonic species.』
『The title ‘Dragon God’ now includes the Demon Dragon.』
『All dragonic beings belonging to the Demon Dragon will obey you exclusively.』
Messages indicating the successful binding of the Demon Dragon appeared.
『The Stigma evolves by one stage.』
A message that had not appeared when he bound with the Faerie Dragon.
‘The Stigma has evolved?’
The Stigma, which had shown no discernible abilities until now, had evolved, reminding Shimun of his first binding with the Faerie Dragon.
‘At that time… it was insufficient, wasn’t it?’
During the binding of the first dragonic species, the Faerie Dragon.
『The Stigma is far too weak to activate.』
『The Stigma expresses regret and falls back into slumber.』
The Stigma had sent messages stating it couldn’t even activate back then.
Although he had earned the title ‘Dragon God’, the incomplete effect of the weak Stigma had left even the title’s display partially obscured.
But now, things had changed.
The Stigma had evolved by one stage.
However, Shimun felt puzzled.
The reason was simple.
‘I don’t feel any different…’
Despite the message indicating the Stigma’s growth, he couldn’t sense any change or response.
But it seemed only Shimun was unaware.
『The Stigma confirms your divine qualifications.』
『Confirmation of the ‘Creation’ qualification.』
『Connecting to an entity with this qualification.』
A series of messages appeared.
Then,
Kiiieeeng!
An abrupt and sharp ringing invaded his ears.
“Ugh.”
Shimun felt a momentary dizziness as he held his forehead, but it was fleeting. Like a short, inexplicable bout of vertigo, it swiftly vanished without a trace.
However, this fleeting dizziness led to a remarkable transformation. The laboratory surroundings had morphed into a black, void-like space, resembling Arena’s waiting room.
Then,
『You are now connected to Constellation Echidna, current holder of the divinity of creation.』
“What, what?!”
A sudden connection alert with the 2nd Dragon Lord, Echidna.
Boom!
Before Shimun had time to process this, the void trembled violently.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
And then, a refined, yet somewhat flustered female voice echoed.
“Why has the divinity of creation suddenly…?”
Without a single wrinkle, the woman’s middle-aged appearance was evident through her green eyes. When her green eyes spotted Shimun, “Who—Who are you?!”
Her eyes, characteristically sharp like those of a dragon, narrowed intensely.
*
The Great Matriarch of the dragons.
Mother of Cruach, the 1st Dragon Lord, and herself the second-ranked Constellation in dragon hierarchy.
Echidna, bearing various titles, exclaimed, “Kim Shimun! How have you come to be here?!”
Her profound bewilderment was apparent. Understandably so.
‘The divinity of creation should be under my possession!’
The Dragon God Tiamat.
The divinity of creation, once held by her husband, now belonged to her.
“Answer me at once!”
How could it be that, “How could you set foot here without my permission?!”
To have entered a place she protected without her authorization, while bearing the divinity of creation.
But perhaps Shimun had no idea either?
“I honestly… don’t know.”
Audaciously enough, Shimun’s genuine confusion was believable even to a celestial like Echidna.
“Are you truly…!”
Echidna’s pupils dilated and contracted like those of an agitated reptile.
For good reason.
Even Cruach, the 1st Dragon Lord, couldn’t access this place without her consent.
Yet Shimun managed to enter on his own and even summon Echidna here.
Claiming ignorance?
This implied, “Are you mocking me?!”
He was mocking her.
“Fine! This is perfect!”
Echidna exhaled roughly and raised her head.
Then, “I’ve been longing to deal with you anyway…”
Crack!
Just like Shimun’s Dragonoid form, Echidna’s entire body twisted.
But unlike Shimun, her body warped and enveloped in a greenish light,
『I am given such an opportunity!』
In an instant, she grew to an enormous size. Her true form was twice the size of the Vrtra’s true form he had seen before in the Pleasure Basin.
Maybe due to the vast space of the void, her massive presence was mostly indicated by the deep green glint of her eyes towering above.
『I will avenge all past indignities and my daughter’s death!!』
Her true form roared, making it nearly impossible to discern her with the naked eye.
However.
Crack!
『Grrk!』
Echidna’s wrath had no chance of coming to fruition. A mysterious force restrained her movements.
『Comparing the qualifications of the entity holding the current divinity of creation.』
A single message appeared.
『What?!』
Before Echidna could process her confusion,
Sleek.
A scale engraved with various dragons materialized.
As if conducting an assessment,
『Echidna has 0 achievements of dragonic birth. Multiple assisted births confirmed.』
『Kim Shimun has 2 achievements of dragonic birth. 0 assisted births confirmed.』
The scale meticulously weighed the achievements of both Echidna and Shimun,
Then.
Click.
The scale tipped slightly to one side.
『Comparison results show that Kim Shimun has superior qualifications for the divinity of creation.』
A message declaring Shimun’s supremacy appeared.
『Inconceivable!』
Echidna shouted in immediate disbelief.
Fortunately,
『Kim Shimun is not currently a celestial.』
『Insufficient qualifications for holding the divinity of creation.』
『The qualification to hold the divinity of creation is henceforth reserved.』
Her worst fears were not realized.
To be precise,
『Constellation Echidna is currently without any birth-related achievements for the divinity of creation.』
It was only partially true.
『Recalibrating the divinity of creation.』
From Shimun.
Click.
Back to Echidna.
Then again.
Click.
Back to Shimun.
The central scale continued its balancing act for a while, as though it were a life-and-death game.
『…….』
“…….”
Both beings glared at the scale, their eyes filled with immense tension. Particularly Echidna, the current holder of the divinity of creation, fully aware of its value, thought to herself,
‘There’s no need to worry. If that wretch were a constellation, perhaps… but ultimately, he’s a mere human. He cannot dare to challenge me!’
Despite her inner reassurances, her green eyes flashed as she watched the moving scale intently.
Then,
『The recalibration is complete.』
Click.
The suffocating recalibration came to an end.
Following that,
『The conditions of “insufficient to hold the divinity of creation” and “lack of birth-related achievements” are equally valued.』
『Therefore, the holder of dragonic birth achievements, “Kim Shimun,” cannot retain the divinity of creation.』
Upon seeing the verdict appear above the scales,
『Exactly!!』
Echidna shouted in triumph.
『Even if he were a constellation, his roots as a lowly human…!』
Echidna’s tension was palpable.
『Let alone a mere mortal; there’s no point in discussing it further!』
Uncharacteristically exclaiming in joy, Echidna prepared to unleash her rage once the restraint of the divinity of creation dissipated.
『Kim Shimun. You’ve lost the right to hold the divinity, so now you must pay for daring to set foot here!』
Green energy surged from her, but that was as far as it went.
Crack!
『Ugh!』
The divinity of creation still bound her.
『Why!』
Echidna cried out in frustrated indignation.
As if answering,
『Holder of no dragonic birth achievements, “Echidna”, also lacks the qualifications to retain the divinity of creation.』
『However, considering current possession, a portion proportional to “Kim Shimun’s” birth achievements will be stripped.』
A response as shocking as a bolt from the blue.
Naturally,
『Th-This is preposterous!』
Echidna protested vehemently.
『Consequently, 12% of the divinity of creation held by “Echidna” will be stripped and reserved, proportional to “Kim Shimun’s” achievements.』
The divinity of creation mechanically stated the verdict.
Soon after,
『Initiating the removal procedure of the divinity of creation.』
With that chilling message,
Sssaaaaaa!
Green energy, impossible to capture in one glance, was extracted from Echidna’s massive form.
Extracting 12% of her divinity while alive left the 2nd Dragon Lord reeling.
『Aaaaaaaagh!!!』
She screamed as her daughter, the 4th Dragon Lord, Vrtra, had before.
TL’s Corner:
Damn, Echidna catching strays frfr.