A colossal body. Two wings, blazing like lava. Ferocious eyes, wreathed in the flames of destruction. And dwelling within, the one who was the first and strongest Monarch, presiding over destruction.
'Antares.'
In the ancient past, when the Primordial Darkness was split into eight, he was the first Monarch. Therefore, he was the darkness imbued with the purest, densest, and most powerful will of 'destruction' above all else. A catastrophe born from the god's will itself. His strength was a realm that all other Monarchs could not dare to challenge, even if they combined their forces. Even the brilliant legions of the Rulers were mere moths before the flames of destruction he unleashed.
A single roar from him made dimensions scream. A single breath from him made even the brilliant stars in the sky above crumble to dust. Moreover… he was the one and only nemesis who had fought with Sung Suho's father, 'Shadow Monarch Sung Jinwoo,' for the fate of all dimensions for decades.
Ruuuumble!
The Dragon King Antares! He had now regained a portion of his past strength. From the body of Ragnar, who had instantly matured into an adult dragon, a vast mana undulated, ready to burst at any moment.
[…So this is the extent.]
Antares's heavy voice flowed from Ragnar's mouth. The power he had regained was insignificant compared to his original strength. Though his soul and body had grown to be comparable to his past self, the 'Primordial Darkness,' which could be called his foundation, was absent.
But even so, it was enough. Because the flames ignited by the Dragon King Antares still harbored the authority of 'destruction.' And surprisingly, his unique authority, 'destruction,' differed only in form from the 'Jaws of Nothingness, World Predation' before him; in essence, they were very similar powers. And they were both the very 'will to destroy this world,' created by two different Itarim. Suho spoke to him.
"Lend me your strength, Antares."
[I have no reason to refuse.]
An immediate answer. Simultaneously, the flames of destruction blazed in Antares's eyes. And along with that, a single memory flashed through his mind.
– Antares.
It was a conversation he had once had with the 'Illusion of Sung Jinwoo.'
– I too know that my son's vessel is woefully insufficient to inherit your power. He is not of the dragon race, after all. Therefore, I make a proposal.
– A proposal?
The 'Illusion of Sung Jinwoo,' which had dared to appear before his dead self and speak. The audacious proposal he had made while blocking the path to Suho. Even while watching him frown at those absurd words, 'He' must have been certain that he would never refuse his proposal.. Because 'He' was the one who knew his own personality better than anyone.
– Yes. You must be bored, being dead… How about running wild outside again?
Ah, how could he possibly refuse that proposal? The true incarnation of destruction. A terrible battle fiend who felt the thrill of life only amidst blood-splattering combat. That was the distinct character he, the Dragon King Antares, had lived with his entire life!
– Be reborn, O Antares.
Grin—
[Kekeke, kuhahahahaha!]
Recalling that memory, Antares laughed madly. Utterly satisfied.
[Fine, I admit it! Accepting that damned proposal was the best choice I have ever made in my entire life!]
Fwoooosh—!
He drew up all his power.
Crunch! Crack! Crunch! Crack!
Even at this moment, Itarim's law, 'World Predation,' was approaching moment by moment. The Jaws of Nothingness were chewing and swallowing everything in their path, deleting this entire world. Watching that sight, Antares simply couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
To chew and eat a world! Was this not truly an absurd power! And that made it all the more thrilling. A shiver ran down his spine. All the madness he had unleashed during the long war engulfed Antares's body and mind.
Chwaaaaak—
[Yes! Let us compete! To see who is stronger!]
Antares spread his two wings and soared. With Suho on his head.
Fwoosh!
Scorching heat boiled in his mouth. Exploding the vast mana he had regained after so long, he condensed all that power within his maw.
[Antares uses Skill: 'Breath of Destruction'!]
And he unleashed it.
Kwaarrrrrrrrrrrung—!
What erupted from the Dragon King Antares's mouth was no simple flame. It was the pure will of 'destruction,' erasing all existing concepts!
[Kuhahaha! Behold, O god! This is the power of destruction created by your kinsman, who died a miserable death!]
The Dragon King erupted in ecstatic, mad laughter. In response, Itarim also smiled back.
[What is this now?]
Had there ever been a time like this? Events that continually stimulated his interest were occurring one after another. Variable upon variable. His perfect world was collapsing. Thanks to that, a pleasant emotion arose in the bored god's mind. Since antiquity, such an emotion was truly a first. He extended his hand towards the flames of destruction.
Kukwakwakwakwakwakwang!
The breath of destruction collided head-on with the Jaws that Chew the World, 'World Predation.'
At that moment, a tremendous shockwave, nearly a 'Big Bang,' occurred.
――――――!
A wave of absolute destruction, where not even sound could exist, swept through the entire dimension. Space screamed as it was torn apart. From merely being swept up in the wave, the numerous gray angels that had filled the sky were annihilated like dust.
However, 'World Predation' did not disappear. It merely faltered for a moment.
Crack! Crunch! Crack!
The Jaws of Nothingness were still persistently gnawing away at this world. As long as the creator Itarim was sound, his law would not disappear either. But Antares, instead, continued to laugh as if enjoying himself.
Chwaaaaaaaak—!
He spread his two wings, racing across the tattered dimension at a dazzling speed.
[Yes, this is how it should be! If the authority of a god were to collapse from just this, would it not be too disappointing!]
He was originally a being born for destruction and ruin. The appearance of a powerful enemy that could stand against his power was the ultimate amusement for him. And if that opponent was a 'god,' even more so!
Ruuuumble!
A void universe, brilliant with starlight. A vast battlefield where light and darkness were chaotically mixed. Upon it, planets large and small exploded, and lightning bolts imbued with divine power tore the entire universe apart. And through it, Antares flew freely, once again spewing the breath of destruction.
Towards Itarim.
Crunch! Crack! Crack!
Then, World Predation would block its path again, chewing and eating the flames he had spewed. The flames of destruction were chewed up, and in their place remained only the void. Thus, as Antares's destruction and Itarim's destruction clashed countless times, the holes of void cutting through the universe increased by the moment.
[My successor. Do you know?]
In the midst of it all, Antares chuckled and spoke to Suho.
[In the past, when the Rulers betrayed and murdered the Absolute Being they served. What do you think I, who was at war with them, was thinking?]
The Monarchs were created to destroy the world, the Rulers to protect it. The war between those two forces was a natural destiny, the law of creation itself. But one day, suddenly, the Rulers had killed their own creator. It was the moment the tide of the seemingly eternal war was overturned. At that time, what do you think the Monarchs, who were at war with the Rulers, felt? Especially, the leader who led all those Monarchs, the Dragon King Antares, who had been at the very forefront of the battlefield, craving pure destruction and erupting in mad laughter just like now, what do you think he was thinking?
Grin—
Recalling his feelings at that time, Antares, carrying Suho on his head, stretched the corners of his mouth into a long grin. And still looking at the 'other god,' visible far away but clearly in front of him, he continued his next words. Licking his lips.
[…Ah, I should have killed him first.]
'…?!'
In a way, it was only natural. Antares was the true incarnation of destruction. From the moment he was created by the god, he had wanted to kill the god more intensely than anyone else. He had wanted to see the end of all things in the world. The one being who, in all moments of that war, had laughed, enjoying death and destruction. That was the 'Monarch of Destruction,' Antares.
[Truly… at that moment, I was so envious of those Rulers I thought I would go mad! Ah, what must the battle against a god have been like?]
Fierce jealousy blazed. Stubbornness and obsession glinted in Antares's eyes, he continued to mutter to himself, imagining that moment, emitting a chilling madness that could be felt by everyone.
Then, he stopped…
[But finally—]
The Dragon King's mad eyes looked directly at Itarim, hidden behind World Predation. And he laughed.
[Now I can finally find out. After all this time, the opportunity to fight a 'god' myself has finally arrived!]
Ruuuumble!
Once again, an even fiercer flame of destruction boiled within his mouth. This time, to kill the god himself!
Kwaaaaaaaang—!
The breath of destruction clashed with the Jaws that Chew the World again. World Predation chewed the breath, and the breath melted the jaws. Destruction and destruction, swallowing each other. This world hurtled towards its end even faster. And as it did, Antares's madness also burned fiercely. But he never moved emotionally. The war between the Rulers and Monarchs had continued for an immeasurably long time. If Antares had been a Monarch who acted only on impulse, the battle between the two forces would not have continued so fiercely and eternally.
On the battlefield, a fiery madness was important, but at the same time, one had to be able to watch and judge the front line with an extremely cold and composed gaze. His eyes, steeped in madness, were even at this moment, reading and judging the tide of battle with extreme composure. And he reached a conclusion. Though it looked like an even match on the surface, in reality, it was not.
Grind!
He gritted his teeth, glaring at Itarim. The Outer God had not moved an inch from its original spot amidst this catastrophe where everything was collapsing. Far away, behind everything, it was doing nothing, merely observing all this with interest. As if watching a movie. At that, Antares, while fighting World Predation, called out to Suho.
[This won't work! As I am now, having lost the Primordial Darkness, I cannot reach him! If it were anyone else, even if I were to die here again, I would never hand over this fight, but…!]
The Dragon King's will reached Suho.
[You are acceptable. My successor, Sung Suho! I leave him to you!]
…Thump!
[The 'Primordial Darkness' that was once mine is already within you!]
Right at that moment, within Suho, the 'Dragon King's Heart' began to pound violently.