They all died not long ago…

"A Spirit King can die? Aren't they immortal?"

That's what we believed as well, but it wasn't the case. During the Great War, many Spirit Kings perished while fighting against the Chernobog when they invaded Spirit World. I'm ashamed to say this, but I am the strongest of the remaining metal spirits.

'Again.'

The same story was mentioned again. The war that was so all-encompassing that it shook the foundation of the entire universe — The Great War.

'Well, I guess I should be glad I was born in this age? If I had been alive during those times, I would have been swept away by the war regardless of where I was in the universe.'

Since the beginning of time, the Great Universe had birthed beings that mortals could not even imagine. Gods and demons created alongside the creation of the universe. Ancient Gods possessed so much power and authority that they could destroy the entire universe if they wished. Space monsters that were bigger than planets and stars. Beings without names and titles whose roots were unclear. Finally, transcendents who trained themselves in search of stronger powers.

However, even though such beings possessed unimaginable power, they were extremely limited in their actions. It was because they were under control.

Asura.

The parallel identity of the Creation God. He controlled the universe with very strict laws, and even powerful and terrifying beings with incredible strength dared not break them. The Creator God had chosen the mortals to be the protagonists of the world. The superpowers of the universe could easily slaughter even the transcendents like mere worms, but they were unable to interfere with the fate of mortals or even leave their designated spots unless they consumed an object called the feather.

Perhaps that was why… a war was inevitable. The moment Asura disappeared, they had no reason to hold back anymore.

"Was the Metal Spirit King the only one who died?"

19 of the 22 Spirit Kings died. The Spirit God exercised his power afterward to elevate five first-tier spirits to Spirit Kings, but...

"…You haven't filled all the seats."

It was pure madness. The whole spirit world was in danger of being destroyed.

Pink Pink sighed deeply.

Flash!

What's with this ridiculous energy… Ah! You surprised me!"

"…A giraffe?"

I stared at the creature. An actual giraffe had appeared with a sudden flash. After suddenly appearing out of the blue, the giraffe bent its long neck and looked down at me.

Whoa, what is this? What's with this spiritual pressure? What's wrong with him? The elemental affinity is incredible, but I can't even get within ten steps of him. Pink Pink. What's with this person?

Well, actually, I don't know either. I think he's a member of the godly tribes. Excuse me, what's your name?

"Dae-ha. It's Kwan Dae-ha."

Ah, Dae-ha-nim. This is Elaika. He's a first-tier lightning spirit.

As I listened to the conversation between the spirits, Ares and Genie, who had been quiet for a while, started to whisper.

Do you think it's possible?

Yes. Well, it's not something that's unheard of.

"What are you guys talking about?"

When I expressed my confusion, Ares responded.

I think you possess an aptitude for more than one element. Both metal and lightning. But metal elemental summoners are quite rare.

After hearing his explanation, I turned back towards Pink Pink and Elaika. Come to think of it, all the spirits around me had fled with the exception of these two. My attributes had been pretty much confirmed.

"Are there not many elemental summoners with the metal attribute?"

The answer came from Pink Pink, who was giving a rough breakdown of the situation to Elaika.

Yes, that's how it is. Most people born with the metal and lightning attributes tend to be very combative, so they usually end up as martial artists. Well, contracting with spirits isn't limited to spirits sharing the same attribute as the human, so there are quite a few summoners who contracted with metal spirits, but less than 0.1% of all summoners possess the metal attribute.

Then, a very loud noise echoed from far away.

Boom!

Cases like this are especially rare. From the moment you entered the spirit world, you caused such a large commotion. I could search the entire history of the spirit world and…

Boom!

"Wait a moment. What is this noise?"

What? What are you talking about?

"You can't hear it? The ground is ringing."

At that moment, a heavy echo resounded once more. This time, the sound was heard just around the corner. The being responsible for the commotion entered into view immediately.

"Oh, my god."

A groan escaped my lips unknowingly.

"My god."

I couldn't breathe properly because of the overwhelming presence.

"What the…"

If I had to name someone who possessed the highest class among everyone I had met so far, I would pick Adam without hesitation. My biological father was a very special First-Tier God, a being infinitely close to becoming an Absolute God. As the God of Civilization and Information, he had bestowed Adam his name as the First Legion.

Before the Great War, Adam not only recovered the status of the Machine God, he also seized the Divinity of Eve, who was close to him like a sister. He rose to the position of one of the strongest First-Tier Gods in the Great Universe. Of course, immediately after that, he had been consumed by madness due to the enormous pressure exerted on him from the Status of a First-Tier God. Even so, I could not deny that he was a ridiculously powerful transcendent, surely one of the strongest.

But as soon I laid my eyes on the being in front of me, I came to a realization.

It was different. It was completely different from Adam.

-Oh…

Its body was as big as tens of mountains combined. The lower body was similar to that of a deer, and the upper body resembled a beautiful woman. But who in the world could call it a living being? Its hair blazed like an active volcano, and its four legs were created from oddly formed boulders. Wings of light and darkness sprouted from its back, which was large enough to cover its entire body. On the back of the deer-like body, dark clouds raged with lightning and storm. Its right arm was made of freshwater, which exuded a reinvigorating atmosphere, and toxic poison, which threatened to melt anything in its way. Strangely, the two liquids sloshed against each other as if they would mix with each other, but never actually doing so. Only the outline of its left arm was visible due to the distorted space around it.

-You…

It looked down at me. Its pupils were made up of jewels as large as apartment complexes.

'This is crazy… What the hell..."

My entire body was shaking under pressure that I had never felt before. I felt its gaze penetrating deep into my very soul. It observed me for a long time. Fortunately, its gaze did not contain killing intent nor displeasure, but simple curiosity. As I barely faced its gaze while trembling, it spoke.

-Gift.

"What?"

Boom!

Then it left. As if it had lost all interest, it didn't spare a single glance back as it left. After it disappeared, the silent surroundings erupted into an explosive commotion.

Kyah! The Spirit God looked at me!

No. God was looking at a well-grown tree.

The Spirit God smiled at me!

No, God was smiling at a flower!

The entire forest started to buzz. Even outsiders like me, Genie, and Ares, were shocked beyond belief.

Are you all right, Captain-nim?

W, what in the world? The Spirit God? Why would such a figure suddenly…

You are amazing! To think the Spirit God would come meet you in person! The Spirit God is equivalent in rank to Primordial Gods!

Wow, I almost went into hiding. Even Zeus won't be able to hold a candle to that guy either.

"Phew…"

I leaned against a tree as my legs turned to jelly. I could see Pink Pink and Elaika jumping up and down in extreme excitement.

"To think I would see the Spirit God."

I already knew of its existence. The lord of the Spirit World was one of the Absolute Gods who was on par with the Jade Emperor of the Saint Realm.

"Genie, has there been any contact with the Spirit God in the empire before?"

That could have never happened. It's something that one would only hear about as a myth or a legend. There are some records of sightings left by the great elemental summoners in the past, but this is probably the first time in the empire's history that someone observed the Spirit King directly.

But what a ridiculous happening. It's not like we just finished an epic journey or anything. We aren't even in some kind of secret space. All we did was enter the Spirit World, and it showed up. Even dogs and cows could come to this place.

I agreed with his remark. So to speak, it was as if the U.S. president came to greet me at the airport when I visited the U.S. for sightseeing. No, even that was insufficient to describe the situation. It was as if I went to Jerusalem for sightseeing, and Jesus suddenly appeared in front of me.

Oh, anyway.

Ares smiled with a dumbfounded expression, then looked back at me.

Are you okay?

"Am I okay? What are you… huh?"

I started to express my confusion when I noticed that something was different.

"My clothes are back."

I was no longer naked. The clothes I had been wearing before were now covering my body again. Well, I guess they had never actually come off, but still.

Ohhh---

A strange energy was circulating my body. I couldn't really describe it with words. As the energy swirled around me, the surrounding background was being pushed back. The trees filled with vitality, the fertile land, and the little pebbles started to distort and circle around me while being pushed back. It looked like computer graphics.

Huh? I think I've seen this before… Right. Pink Pink, isn't this a Unique Field?

Huh? That's a power that even the Great Elemental Summoners struggle to imitate. The ones that possess the spatial attribute to boot. No, in the first place, why did he suddenly develop such an ability?

Pink Pink and Elaika started to whisper among themselves after belatedly checking my condition. I could feel that they were taken back by the unexpected development.

Was it bestowed by the Spirit God? But why?

Moreover, that's an ability that can't be invoked unless he signs a contract with a high-ranked spirit… Is the Spirit God giving us a revelation to sign a contract with him?

But how are we supposed to sign a contract with him when we can't even get close to him?

The two First-Tier spirits kept chatting away while the strange phenomenon continued to develop. My immediate surroundings began to become completely separated from the rest of the Spirit World.

Hey, Dae-ha, are you okay? I think there's something like a dimensional fracture.

Ah!

Pink Pink, who was whispering at the time, pointed at Ares as if she had come to a profound realization.

Oh! That's right! That's a spirit right there! Moreover, it seems pretty high-ranked as well! If it's that spirit, he would be able to activate a Unique Field!

Oh, yes! That strange spirit, his compatibility with this man is on the level of a heavenly king!

Besides, this spirit has both metal and lightning attributes. Was there really a need for him to come to the spirit world?

Ares had pretended not to see them until now. As the two chattered away, Ares seemed to find the noise annoying. He spoke up in a furious voice.

What are these spirits talking about? Why am I a spirit?

Huh? A spirit is a spirit, why are you asking such a stupid question?

You are obviously a spirit.

The two looked at him with a strange expression, and Ares became furious at their gazes.

I am Ares!! I'm not a measly spirit!

A powerful soul energy exuded from Ares. Even though he was just a projection of thoughts, the energy contained in Ares' Iron Heart was transcendental. Utilizing his tremendous power, Ares roared loudly.

Know that you are in the presence of the God of War! I am a God with a Divine Spirit!

Ooohhh---!

Flashes of light accompanied the descent of a great spirit. The Spirit of the War God called all beings to kneel in front of him and reinvigorated the spirits of his allies!

But Pink Pink and Elaika showed no reaction to Ares' spirit. Rather, Pink Pink raised a small hand and swirled it next to her head[1].

What is he talking about?

I don't know. He must be out of his mind.

1. like calling someone cuckoo.