She had grown.

The appearance of a young girl had vanished without a trace, and she now stood as a mature woman. Her blue hair cascaded down past her waist, and her blue eyes shone brilliantly.

Minerva stepped onto the earth.

The trembling wind circled around her, and the air itself settled next to Minerva.

Nature itself submitted to her.

An overwhelming presence engulfed the entire world.

She turned her gaze. With a somewhat cold look in her eyes, she smiled faintly.

It seems like a very long time.

It hasnt even been an hour.

Is that all? How strange.

She examined her fingers. They were slender and beautiful.

It felt like a very long time to me.

Hahaha!

Hazzak burst into laughter, inserting himself between the two. He looked at Minerva excitedly.

Spirit King! Spirit King! Once a weak being I believed in!

He, too, was a human of Arulia. In his childhood, he worshiped the Spirit King and devoted absolute faith to that being.

But not anymore.

To me now, you are nothing! Just die buried!

He had contracted with a great being, rivaling gods.

In fact, Hazzak had easily suppressed the power Minerva had shown with her fury.

Even if the Spirit King had grown, nothing would have changed for Hazzak. He unleashed shadows. The shadows swallowed everything and charged at Minerva.

Minerva, with a cold gaze, spoke.

Begone.

The wind blew. What started as a small gesture soon became a massive storm that descended upon the earth.

Crack!

The raging storm blew away and erased the shadows. Hazzak, with a stiff face, wrapped himself in darkness. The wind engulfed him.

Aaagh!

For the first time, pain filled his voice.

Hmph.

Minerva coldly laughed.

When the storm had subsided, the shadows that had engulfed the entire land had vanished without a trace.

[Truly a definitive Spirit King.]

The ghost murmured. Taesan also realized. Having seen the Fire Spirit King, he could immediately compare them.

Minerva now possessed the perfect power of the Spirit King.

A power that could penetrate even the deepest depths alone, a power that the current Taesan, even if facing her with dozens of himself, could not guarantee victory against.

Status, power, and the qualifications that matched that statusall were embodied in the current Minerva.

Id like to tear you apart right now but

Minervas eyes narrowed. A murderous intent enveloped Hazzak.

O-

Hazzak swallowed his breath. Shadows wrapped around his body for protection.

Merely by showing her emotions, Hazzak felt a tangible pressure.

That wont do.

Minerva looked up at the sky.

Thunder!

Taesan had been too preoccupied with fighting Hazzak to notice, but beyond the sky, purple energy and light continued to collide.

A power wave that could be felt even from the distant ground.

It was the clash between a high god and a spirit god.

Barkaza arrived belatedly. He bowed respectfully towards the Spirit King.

[Your Majesty. Congratulations on becoming complete.]

Yes, Barkaza.

Minerva, with an affectionate look, stroked Barkazas head and spoke.

Taesan. I must go to aid my mother. So, it seems you will have to deal with this one.

It doesnt matter.

Dont make me laugh! How dare you ignore me!

Hazzak shouted in anger.

Not even considering him an opponent worth dealing with and attempting to leave, Hazzaks pride couldnt accept that.

With emotion, the shadows swallowed the entire earth as they surged forward.

Minerva scoffed at Hazzak.

Indeed, the power you wield is a threat to me.

The shadows directly contracted with the high god were literally the power of the high god. Its not something even the Spirit Kings power could take lightly.

But in the end, youre just a human wielding it.

Minerva clenched her fist. The approaching darkness shattered like a mirror.

That incomplete power cannot reach me. But it might reach him. It would be a threat. Without help.

Minerva turned her gaze to Taesan.

Im sorry.

She spoke softly.

I asked not to kill him, so the high god intervened.

It doesnt matter. He would have intervened anyway.

No, this is a matter of my heart.

She extended her hand toward Taesan.

I am the king of all spirits and the guardian of Arulia. The Spirit King of the wind, Minerva.

Power flowed from the tips of her fingers.

That power enveloped both Taesan and Minerva.

Staking my birth and demise as a spirit, I contract with you to become your companion in life.

It was a contract. Once made, it could not be broken without the consent of both parties, bound by an unbreakable rule.

Will you accept?

Taesan looked at her solemnly.

I thought you said you dont make contracts?

Her power was for the world. She had said she does not make contracts because it would result in a loss of power.

Minerva smiled bitterly.

The situation has changed. Think of it as my reward and apology.

Outside, Hazzak continued to manifest his power, but it was continually blocked by the barrier surrounding Taesan and Minerva.

She looked anxiously at Taesan.

What will you do?

Well.

There was no reason to refuse. It was clear that the Spirit Kings power was needed to defeat Hazzak.

Ill accept.

Minerva smiled.

Good.

The kings power enveloped Taesan.

Taesan involuntarily let out a groan.

The quality of power Taesan had obtained until now was different; a new grade began to inhabit his body.

[You have made a contract with Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind.] [You have learned the special constant activation skill [Natural Harmony].] [You have learned the special activation skill [King's Vessel].] [You have acquired the title [One Who Has Made a Contract with the King].]

From now on, I am your shield and sword.

Minerva continued.

I will protect you, and your enemies are my enemies, for you are my master.

Taesan nodded. Minerva smiled. She waved her hand, summoning Barkaza.

Come here.

[...Your Majesty. Are you sure it's okay?]

Its my choice. And I have a gift for you, too.

She placed her hand on Barkazas head.

Her power descended upon Barkaza. Barkazas status and power begin to noticeably strengthen.

Barkaza exclaims in astonishment.

[Your Majesty. To grant me such grace...]

It seems it doesnt extend to a shield due to the limit of the vessel.

[This is enough. I am grateful for your grace, Your Majesty.]

Good. Then my work here is done.

Her body began to scatter.

The rest is up to you.

With those final words, she flew far into the sky.

Taesan clenched his fist.

Ah, Aaaaaah!

Hazzak screamed.

Just! Just with the power of the Spirit King!

Shadows rose. The darkness, previously suppressed by the power of the Spirit King, targeted Taesan again.

Rough shadows.

Until now, even touching them had to be avoided.

But not anymore.

Barkaza.

Barkaza clapped his hands with a boom. A barrier formed, encircling Taesan.

Crack!

The barrier shook violently as it collided with the shadows.

But it didnt break. Despite being cracked and seemingly about to fly away at any moment, it firmly protected its charge.

[Ho. It can block attacks of that level.]

Satisfaction could be heard in Barkazas voice.

[This is the power bestowed upon me by the King herself... I am very satisfied.]

Dont make me laugh! A mere high-grade cant stop me!

[It's actually happening. A human who has sold his soul.]

Barkaza mocked Hazzak.

While he blocked the attack, Taesan quietly tuned his changed senses.

His hand trembled.

The wind gathered above his hand in response.

The energy of the earth flowed into Taesan through his feet, and the energy of the sky slowly descended.

Nature itself was in harmony with Taesan.

Ha.

Taesan couldnt help but burst into laughter.

He, who had been the enemy of spirits and received their hostility, had made a contract with the Spirit King who protected them. Laughter came out involuntarily.

Just hold on a little longer.

[I'll try. But I don't think I can hold on for long. Please, finish it as quickly as possible, Master.]

Aaaaah!

Hazzak continued to pound on the barrier.

The barrier shook as if it would break at any moment, but it held its ground.

Taesan quietly tuned the power he felt inside him.

The skill he received from the contract with Minerva. He instinctively knew how to use it.

[You have activated the King's Vessel.]

Thud!

His body shook.

A great, mortal extremity of authority began to inhabit him.

Taesan groaned. The grand authority swallowed his entire being, clashing and colliding with the many powers he had harbored.

Its foreign.

It wasnt the authority he had built up. It was a method of forcibly elevating authority and vessel through the contract. As such, it inevitably clashed with the power he had built up and felt foreign.

And too strong.

Such power violently shook his interior to the point of being aggressive.

He could handle it, but his proficiency was far too insufficient to properly tune it with the other powers.

The power rose due to the Kings Vessel.

The Soul power he had built up.

Mana.

Magic.

Various powers within him shook.

Taesan quickly decided. He couldnt harbor all these powers now.

The pure white ring shone brilliantly.

Wooong.

Tinged with elegance and mystery, the pure white ring shone.

Its effects were to assist the inherent Soul and store power.

The authority and vessel filling Taesan due to the activation of the Kings Vessel flowed towards the ring. The ring quietly absorbed all that power.

Wooong.

The power contained in the ring stabilized.

Taesan was slightly surprised at the ring accepting all powers.

Even this?

[Consider the material of that ring. Shouldn't it be able to accept even the power of the Spirit King itself without a problem?]

A good miscalculation. Taesan synchronized with the ring. A manageable amount of power began to inhabit his body.

Phew.

Taesan, having completed all his preparations, caught his breath.

What a strange feeling.

[Is everything ready, Master? I'm reaching my limit.]

Hazzak was manifesting power in a frenzied state. The barrier that Barkaza had been desperately maintaining was starting to crumble.

Its done now.

Taesan stepped forward.

Clang!

The barrier shattered. Hazzak bared his teeth.

Take this!

Darkness surged toward him.

Taesan clenched his fist.

Synchronizing with the ring, he summoned power and released it.

Kwaang!

A forceful blast erupted.

The shadows were obliterated by the power.

What, what?

Taesans lips curled into a smile. He felt satisfaction coursing through his body from the power.

Very good.

This cant be happening!

Hazzak screamed in disbelief.

I, I have been granted the power of gods! I have received the power that defies the laws of this world!

He believed he had surpassed the limitations of a mortal. He couldnt accept that his attack, from someone who believed so deeply in his own power, was thwarted by a mere Spirit King, by the human standing before him.

Chwararak!

Driven by his emotions, shadows surged. Countless forms of darkness in various shapes attempted to engulf Taesan.

Taesan drew his sword.

Kagagagang!

With a swing of his sword, the shadows were repelled. They tried to cling to the sword and corrode it but were driven back by a mere exertion of power.

Ha.

Taesan couldnt suppress his laughter.

With this power.

Taesan waved his hand.

[You have activated the Ember of Calamity.]

The Ember of Calamity, the darkness wielded by the wolf that had brought destruction upon the world.

Taesan had previously been unable to control this flame due to insufficient power.

Hwaruruk!

The flame flickered. Taesan moved his hand decisively. The crimson flame, destined to lead the world to ruin, obeyed its masters will and incinerated the shadows.

Taesan clenched his fist. The crimson flame condensed into the shape of a sphere.

Hazzak hastily enveloped himself in shadows.

Chiieeek!

Aaaack!

The shadows were trampled by the crimson flame, engulfing Hazzaks body in fire.

[$#@! took 753 damage.]

Taesans lips curled up in satisfaction.

Finally, normal damage was being inflicted.

You, youuuu!

Hazzak, barely extinguishing the flame, glared with bloodshot eyes. Shadows extended in strands, targeting Taesan.

[You have activated the Kin of the Wolf.]

Wolves made of his spiritual power materialized.

[Keuheng!]

The wolves ferociously tore at the shadows.

The shadows began to tear apart and disappear.

This, this

Nice.

Taesan raised his hand, and darkness began to swirl around him, descending.

Then, will this also work?

[You have activated the Spreading Branches of Curse.]

A technique used by the apostle of a high god, defeated by Taesan. A power directly bestowed by a high god to the apostle.

It was now manifested by Taesans authority.