A child who looked around twelve years old was sleeping deeply in thick darkness. She held a white teddy bear that was as big as she was.

The child suddenly woke up, her braided princess-like hair falling as she blinked drowsily. She yawned and found her bearings, then spoke in a bright voice, “It’s finally time.”

* * *

[Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword shows its gluttony!]

Crunch! Intense winds began to blow along Yeon-woo’s open palms. The ground heaved as the stage quaked. Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword had strengthened along with Yeon-woo’s level, but even Yeon-woo was surprised when the Gula property of his Sin Stone revealed itself. It seemed that the stage might be swallowed up entirely.

The spirit of the Great Warrior also shook like it would fall. Its right arm had already been sucked under the sharp teeth of Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword. However, the spirit still continued to resist.

Krroooo! Its roar boomed through the air, and it thrust its sword into the ground. The spirit endured against the winds, waiting for its magic power to recover.

[‘Great Demon of Chaos’ resists ‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’!]

[‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ reveals more gluttony.]

[‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ reveals more gluttony.]

[‘Great Demon of Chaos’ pulls out the chaotic magic power of the ‘Crawling Chaos’ to resist!]

Yeon-woo gritted his teeth. He thought he’d pushed the spirit to its limits but it seemed to have some strength left. Perhaps it could instinctively tell what would happen if Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword consumed it. Just as he thought about deactivating the skill and using Sword Thunder to corner the spirit further, the Sin Stone trembled and distributed more magic power to his left hand.

[The Stone of Sin (Superbia·Gula) expresses displeasure.]

[‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ reveals a new property, ‘Pride’!]

It was a magic power more violent and torrential than before. Superbia! The property that dismissed all others as beneath it and forced them to give in had risen.

[‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ uses its pride to crush the struggles of the ‘Great Demon of Chaos.’]

[‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ puts more pressure on the ‘Great Demon of Chaos’.]

…

[All the chaotic magic power of the ‘Great Demon of Chaos’ has been scattered!]

Kyakyakyak! Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword thrashed like a wild beast as it hacked at the spirit of the Great Warrior. Blood spurted from the spirit’s chest and cracks began to appear on its sword. When the attack reached its climax, the spirit of the Great Warrior shattered into pieces and whirled into Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword.

[You have successfully gained a large amount of ‘Giant Factors’.]

[You have successfully gained a large amount of ‘Giant Factors’.]

…

Messages popped up consecutively.

[Giant Factors have been awakened.]

[Giant Factors have been awakened.]

…

[You have successfully combined the Giant Factors with the Demonic, Divine, and Draconic Factors.]

[Giant Blood has been added to your demonic, divine, and Draconic blood.]

[Qualities of the giant race are firmly engraved in your demonic, divine, and draconic bones.]

…

[The awakening of your Giant Demonic Divine Draconic Body is beginning.]

Crack. Yeon-woo could feel his body shaking once again as the Giant Factors were added into the depths of his cells. It wasn’t just his physical muscles and bones that were changing, but his soul was also transforming.

He’d felt it when the Demonic Draconic Body and Demonic Divine Draconic Body had been awakened, but gaining new Factors felt like his perspective of the world was shattering, and a new world was opening up to him.

The world dragons saw, the world demons saw, and the world gods saw—they were all vastly different because their purposes and paths were all dissimilar. Dragons wished to view another side of the world, demons sought pleasure, and gods desired control. The world of the giant race he was now viewing was unlike any of them, as well.

The giants craved to climb higher. They had always looked at a point higher than where they were and contemplated how they could get there. They trampled over their own weaknesses. Yeon-woo felt like this suited him perfectly since he also used any means to climb to a higher floor and planned to eventually crush the Tower once he reached the top.

[The four Factors find a balance.]

As he reveled in the feeling, his soul changed immensely. The human identity that remained in him became fainter as his soul took on a new form. His body attempted metamorphosis a second time. Whoosh! Just as the four Factors found their balance and his Giant Demonic Divine Draconic Body was about to finish awakening…

[You do not have enough Giant Factors.]

[You need more Factors to awaken.]

[Your level falls short of the requirement.]

[The four Factors is not evenly balanced.]

[The awakening of the Giant Demonic Divine Draconic Body has been paused.]

[Current progress: 42.9%]

‘Darn…’ Yeon-woo frowned. The boost couldn’t help him jump over the final hurdle, and he belatedly understood why. He didn’t have enough Giant Factors, even though he’d just absorbed an enormous amount, considering that he’d consumed not only the spirit of the Great Warrior but also 3,000 soldiers. Even though they were vestige bodies mostly made up of chaotic magic power, it was still a huge amount, but his soul had grown too much.

He was already in the process of exuviating, and he would have likely transcended if it hadn’t been for Allforone’s interference. He needed even more Factors than this already huge amount, so he had to stop and content himself with what he’d already gained. However, there was no need to be disappointed. ‘Given how people didn’t have a chance to gain Giant Factors even if they wanted to, this is pretty amazing. If this scenario quest is accurate, I’ll have more chances to gain Giant Factors in the future.’ Yeon-woo was almost certain he’d have all the Giant Factors he needed by the time the quest was over.

Whoosh! Just then, the light surrounding Yeon-woo began to dim. It meant his metamorphosis had been suspended. A cloud quivered in front of him and turned into the giant figure of the Great Warrior. It shrank to Yeon-woo’s size, blinking with clouded eyes. Then, the dark eyes that had been infected with the magic power of the Crawling Chaos cleared.

『I didn’t know I’d be able to see the world in this clear state of mind again.』 The spirit of the Great Warrior closed his eyes and breathed in. The stage had nearly been destroyed from the attacks of Sword Thunder, but it was a familiar environment for the spirit. 『Even when I was the Skeleton King, I could only wake a few times. This is nice. It’s almost a pity I won’t be able to stay like this too long.』 The spirit of the Great Warrior breathed deeply as he turned to Yeon-woo. 『Regardless, thank you, successor. It’s all because of you that I can leave with a lucid mind.』

“You’re….”

『Ah. What an idiot. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m the last king of the giants, Valdebich.』

Valdebich. Yeon-woo quietly repeated the name to himself. Was it a mere coincidence that the last king of the giant race and the lonely half-giant had the same name? He didn’t think so. “Nice to meet you, Valdebich.”

『Anyway, you are…I felt it when I didn’t have any consciousness too, but you are quite an interesting fellow. You’re not a dragon, a god, or a demon, but you have their traits despite your human form. How is this possible?』 The spirit of the Great Warrior was surprised. He had never seen anything like Yeon-woo before on the countless battlefields he had fought on.

Mortals could only view things on a physical level, but since he could see things on multiple dimensions, the spirit thought Yeon-woo was a strange mutant. However, Yeon-woo was different from the loathsome otherworld gods because unlike them, it was clear to see what he was created from. However, Yeon-woo also seemed in danger to him—although Yeon-woo seemed fine right now, possessing four Factors of transcendent beings was like walking around with a ticking bomb. If his level hadn’t increased or his body wasn’t sturdy enough, he wouldn’t have even gotten this far. The spirit was curious how Yeon-woo would grow further with his body. 『Well, no matter. Whatever you are, you’re the successor who holds my tablet and the savior who has released us from this curse.』

Ding!

[You have completed the scenario quest (Proof of the King I).]

[You have made an achievement that is not easily accomplished. Additional karma will be provided.]

[You have acquired 150,000 karma.]

[You have acquired an additional 200,000 karma.]

[You have been awarded the title of ‘Great Warrior’.]

[You have been awarded…]

…

[The continuation quest (Proof of the King II) has been created.]

[Receive guidance from the ‘Great Demon of Chaos’.]

Messages that he successfully finished the quest popped up.

『First, take this.』 The spirit of the Great Warrior took Yeon-woo’s hand and placed a sword in it. It was a small version of the sword that the spirit had been brandishing earlier, but it had a different property. The sword of the Great Warrior had been made of metal while this was made up of only spirit energy—and very pure energy at that. It was priceless.

Yeon-woo could feel the gazes of the gods and demons becoming more focused. An item that symbolized the king of the giant race would be rarer than anything the highest gods or demon kings of each society possessed. From their perspective, Yeon-woo, a potential enemy, was becoming stronger.

[Many gods express concern at the strength of a forgotten race being awakened.]

[Many demons carefully observe your actions.]

Tsk. Yeon-woo clicked his tongue at all these unwanted guests. He couldn’t get rid of their abilities to watch the lower world even after he cut his Channels with them. Yeon-woo lightly tapped the ground and expanded his shadow, which flowed along the ground and even covered the sky, covering the stage in a dome of darkness.

[Underworld territory has been declared.]

[External interference has been blocked.]

Yeon-woo grinned when he confirmed the gazes of the unwanted guests were gone.

『A skilled fellow indeed.』 The spirit of the Great Warrior smiled widely at the sight.

“What is this?”

『This is a holy artifact that symbolizes Great Warriors, the kings of our race. It’s like a token that gives you courage and chivalry simply by having it on you. Use it to strengthen an artifact or item.』 The spirit of the Great Warrior stiffened and he emphasized his next words. 『Take this and save our…race…and brothers…』 The spirit of the Great Warrior began to crackle as though it were static. There wasn’t much of his vestige left, but each of his final words contained a strong yearning.

‘Save our race and brothers?’ Was there some other information Yeon-woo didn’t know about the end of the giant race?

『And…at…please…care…ful…Crawl…Cha…』 And with that, the spirit of the Great Warrior scattered into dust.

[The continuation quest (Proof of the King II) has been updated.]

[Please open your quest window to check.]

Yeon-woo grasped at the floating particles of light the spirit had left behind in the shadows. It seemed that he had to figure out what the spirit of the Great Warrior and his warriors had died trying to fulfill and complete it.

However, there was something he felt wary of: the warning that the spirit of the Great Warrior left behind about the Crawling Chaos. Was there some relation between the being and the ruin of the giant race?

Urrrng. As he continued to guess what happened, he looked down at the shaking holy artifact of the Great Warrior. The spirit had told him to use it to strengthen anything he needed to. Since it contained all the vestiges and legends of past giant kings, he couldn’t use it in vain. Depending on how he used it, it might add powers or skills to it like Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword. If it had the holiness of all the giant kings, it wouldn’t fall short of the divine authority of the gods.

Then, he’d be able to truly become the giant king’s successor, which would be helpful in strengthening his legend. ‘I’m barely getting used to the Throne of Death, but now I even have the opportunity to become a giant king. I’m not worthy of these positions.’ Who could have imagined a soldier from Earth would get this far?

Urrrng. As he looked at the shaking holy artifact, he decided on how he would use it. ‘Then…’

Yeon-woo gripped the artifact and smashed it down.