Chapter 99 – At Last, a Meeting with the Corrupted Spirit!
Deep within the sweltering tropical jungle, a colossal creature feasted without pause.
Vine-like tendrils snaked out from its massive form, plucking giant caterpillar-like monsters from the ground one by one, raising them into the air before shoving them into its gaping maw.
All around it, the squirming insectoid creatures crept forward in orderly lines, offering themselves willingly like living sacrifices.
This was the Corpse Bloom King, a high-grade plant-type monster—one that had no reason to exist on this floor.
Tap.
Shin Akira stepped into the area, his boots pressing into the mossy earth. His gaze immediately locked onto the towering monstrosity.
In that moment, the Corpse Bloom King froze mid-bite, magic stone still clutched in one tendril. It slowly turned its massive body toward him.
The creature had become the vessel of the Corrupted Spirit.
Once revered as a great fairy, the being had long since fallen—twisted into a grotesque monster driven by a single instinct: to hunt and devour.
Its prey was no longer ordinary creatures, but magic stones—pure sources of magical energy.
And now, standing before it was Shin Akira, the densest concentration of magical energy in all of Orario.
Even if every adventurer in the city joined forces, their combined mana wouldn't amount to a tenth of what flowed through him.
That wasn't arrogance. It was cold, hard truth.
He was the King of the Shadowkhan, and with 95% of the inheritance complete, he was almost fully merged with the Shadow Realm itself. His magical capacity had already surpassed human understanding.
— — —
Suddenly, a tremor shook the 59th floor.
The once-clear sky darkened, replaced by swirling clouds of tainted mana. A sickly, oppressive aura spread like a whirlpool, distorting the air.
"Aaaaahhh—"
An eerie moan echoed through the floor. Akira frowned, his gaze sharpening.
Beneath his feet, the Corpse Bloom King began to mutate. Its massive flower petals withered and fell, and from its core, a humanoid figure emerged—shaped like a woman.
Emerald-green hair, sickly green skin, pale golden eyes. While the creature wore a human face, its essence was far from human. That face was merely a mask, disguising something far more sinister.
Thud.
From every direction, plant-like monsters began to crawl forth—giant man-eating flowers writhing as they pushed their way out of the earth.
Even worse, the grotesque caterpillars returned, slithering from every crack and crevice, surrounding the area like a tidal wave of flesh. Anyone with a fear of crawling things would've fainted on the spot.
"Shadowkhan legions… prepare for battle."
Shuuu—shuuu—shuuu!
All nine Shadowkhan legions answered his call, emerging from the shadows one after another.
"Oh, what a delicious scent… Let me consume you. Come, merge with me—forever."
The Corrupted Spirit whispered from behind its army. Unlike the other mindless monsters, this one could speak—and reason.
"Too bad. If you think you can consume me, you've picked the wrong target."
Akira smiled coolly. His eyes pierced through her like blades. He could already feel the last 5% of his inheritance—just within reach.
Crack!
Ignoring the swarm surrounding him, Shin Akira strode forward without hesitation.
A wave of man-eating flowers lunged at him, vines and maws outstretched.
Their goal was simple: kill Akira and offer his overflowing mana to their mistress.
Whoosh!
Before they could even touch him, a blade of light swept across the field.
The monsters were cleaved in two, collapsing lifelessly to the ground. In their place, yellowish-brown magic stones rolled across the soil—unlike the usual purple ones found in the Dungeon.
The attack had come from Mantis Khan, the ninth legion's elite warrior.
With limbs like massive scythes and blinding rotational slashes, Mantis Khan was known as the strongest close-combat unit among the entire Shadowkhan army.
While he stood, no enemy could approach Akira.
And that was only one legion. Eight others remained, each unleashing their fury upon the battlefield.
— — —
Still, Akira's gaze never strayed from the Corrupted Spirit ahead.
The Corrupted Spirit—or Kegareta Seirei—was an existence above even the Elves. It was among the rarest and most mysterious magical species.
They were said to be the closest beings to the gods themselves—once revered as Divine Avatars or Children Beloved by Heaven.
Before the gods descended into the Lower World, the Corrupted Spirits were the ones who led humanity, guiding them in battle against monsters and serving as symbols of divine power.
Even the ability to forge magic swords was believed to be a distant legacy from these beings, who once blessed the ancestors of today's blacksmiths.
"…Wait. That scent… A cursed aroma… A stench hated by the gods…"
The Corrupted Spirit narrowed her glowing eyes.
"You… are you… The Fool?"
Akira's brow twitched. Curse? Divine hatred? That was nothing new. He'd long been aware of the "smell" he carried.
But that title—"The Fool"—that part unsettled him.
Was it like in the world of Campione? A title bestowed upon those who had slain gods?
"'The Fool'? No idea what you're talking about."
"The arrogant gods will suffer for their pride. But you… Fool, kneel before me. I shall grant you true power…"
"You? Give me power?"
Akira chuckled coldly. "I think you've overestimated yourself."
He wasn't speaking to a divine being. She was a monster now—one who wore the skin of a goddess.
Words meant nothing. Even if he stayed cautious deep down, his expression remained composed and mocking.
"…Foolish indeed. Then let me end this… here and now."
With that declaration, the monstrous army surged forward—caterpillars and flowers alike.
[Shine forth—! Soar through the skies—!]
[Illuminate the darkness! I am the incarnation of radiance! I am the Queen of Light—]
[Holy Light Explosion!]
A massive light spell was unleashed. Even in her corrupted state, the Corrupted Spirit could still wield light-element magic.
Behind her, spell circles ignited the air.
Bolts of lightning crackled from the heavens.
KA-THOOOOOM!!!
The explosion tore through the battlefield, disintegrating everything in its path—friend or foe.
Countless monsters, including the flower minions, were vaporized instantly.
But the Corrupted Spirit showed no emotion. Not satisfaction, not remorse.
The battle had only just begun.
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