Chapter 869

Ian's several tongues flicked out.

What if we don’t use the essence bead itself? What if we transform this fused body instead?

Staring at the ominous sky, memories of the archdemon Yanar Tash and the battle with the Heaven Defier resurfaced.

Then he lowered his gaze again.

If I fuse further with the chaos I’ve absorbed and surpass the level of an archdemon, I should be able to form a domain too. Besides, the amount of chaos that thing contains is practically endless.

Below them, Raskagin’s dark-red body writhed, countless blue eyes gleaming across it.

Around the enormous vortex twisting through the sea, gigantic pillars of water resembling tentacles surged upward in violent spirals.

Amidst the spectacle, Ian realized the eye he had destroyed still had not regenerated.

He couldn't tell if his chaos was continually shredding the inside or if the incomplete body simply had limitations.

If that’s really its weak point, that’s a pretty cliché pattern.

—So you’re suggesting we let the domains collide and intertwine, then shatter that crude vessel apart.... Quite a reckless and dangerous plan, my friend.

As Ian continued his thoughts, Yog whispered, its membranous wings slowly flapping. Their ascent was gradually slowing now, and Yog’s laughter carried a far deeper meaning than before.

—No matter how elevated your soul has become, if you go too far, you may cross the point of no return.

It clearly did not merely mean being consumed by chaos.

Ian could become a transcendent existence through an entirely different route than simply accumulating power incrementally.

Escaping mortality was one thing, but Yog would never welcome Ian becoming a god already.

You’ve grown stronger too.

If that happened, Yog would never be able to escape him for eternity. That was one of the reasons Ian had chosen to gamble.

Ian continued to gaze at Raskagin below, enveloped again in blue fog.

And if it gets excessive, you can intercept part of it midway.

Yog’s whisper, tinged with genuine surprise, followed a beat later.

—You’re saying I’m allowed to intercept the chaos?

Its tone sounded genuinely disbelieving. After all, Yog already knew Ian did not fully trust it.

Ian gave a slight shrug.

That’ll make it easier for you to keep my consciousness intact, won’t it?

Of course, it was partly wordplay. During the process of absorbing chaos, Yog would inevitably siphon some of it away, regardless of Ian’s permission.

Ian had simply disguised an unavoidable outcome as a reward.

—Of course, my friend. Still, even so, that doesn’t feel unpleasant to hear. Very well... in that case....

Either way, the effect was obvious. Spreading the membrane wings and tentacles wide all at once, Yog let out a leisurely laugh.

—Then I suppose I should repay that trust. Let’s give it a try, my friend, though, whether that creature will willingly surrender its chaos is another matter entirely.

It was not merely because Raskagin had begun rising once more, wrapped in swirling fog. Every asymmetrically scattered eye across its body had turned toward Ian.

Even the tornado-like water pillars that had already risen dozens of meters into the air twisted ominously as though targeting him.

I’ve already got a plan for that part too.

But Ian only smiled, several tongues flicking outward.

His gaze swept downward beneath Raskagin’s torso, now engulfed in cyclone-like fog, toward the region still covered in black smoke—the area scorched earlier by the azure flames.

The flames had not extinguished, even underwater or beneath the chaos fog.

Rumble...

However, that was not the only reason Ian activated the Azure Flames of Heaven Defier once more.

He had witnessed Raskagin’s memories.

Let’s remind it of its worst nightmare. That’s the best way to shatter its concentration and composure.

Blue flames spread not only across his wings but across the horns protruding from his head as well.

Yog chuckled darkly.

—No idea what exactly you saw... but it means that thing has bad memories tied to dragon fire, doesn’t it?

Exactly.

Yog thrust both wings and tentacles backward simultaneously and began to dive. Their trajectory aimed directly toward the ascending pillar-like body of Raskagin.

Whoosh—

By now, Raskagin had become completely engulfed in violently swirling blue fog. Unlike before, however, its head alone protruded fully into the open air.

It was obvious the creature intended to keep Ian within its sight at all costs.

Dark blue light flickered from every one of its many eyes.

Swoosh!

Leaving a blazing trail of azure flame behind like a tail, Yog dove diagonally downward before suddenly twisting its trajectory with a powerful flap of its wings.

The movement looked as though it intended to graze past the ascending Raskagin.

Of course, that was not all.

Boom, boom, boom!

The surging waves of azure flames flew directly toward Raskagin.

Naturally, it reached the surface of the violently swirling fog surrounding the creature first.

Rumble—

The azure flame continued burning fiercely while spewing acrid smoke instead of being extinguished. If anything, it spread further by riding the flow of the fog itself.

The same was true for the flames released by Ian as he swept past Raskagin in an almost acrobatic flight path.

Thought it’d get blown away by the wind.

Ian glanced at the streaks of azure flame rapidly spreading across the surface of the swirling fog. Meanwhile, the massive trail of fog stretching behind Raskagin loomed closer like a gigantic curtain.

Whoosh...

Fog swallowed his vision entirely while the azure flames covering his wings and horns exploded outward in every direction.

Ignoring it entirely, Yog continued flapping its wings while spiraling upward diagonally.

Ian’s jagged eyes twitched sharply as he looked down through the fog.

The remains of the islands were gone. Not only the ones beneath Raskagin, but every fragment of land nearby had disappeared completely.

The surrounding small islands had clearly all sunk beneath the sea. Only a pitch-black ocean remained, violently twisting into colossal whirlpools.

--------!

At that moment, another psychic roar exploded from far above.

Even while Yog beat its flame-covered wings to resist being blown away, Ian turned his gaze toward the spiraling vortex of fog rising alongside them.

By now, it resembled a gigantic tornado wrapped in a blazing ring of azure flame.

------------!

That was likely why fury had mixed into Raskagin’s screams.

The ominous sky opened as the eye of a storm rippled outward in concentric waves while blue lightning crashed down everywhere.

Boom! Boom, boom!

The towering water pillars resembling tentacles either collapsed or writhed violently in spasms. Either way, it was obvious proof that Raskagin had been shaken.

—You should conserve your chaos, my friend. The effect is excellent, but it’s not as though we possess limitless reserves.

Yog whispered almost like a scolding.

There was no need to think deeply about why. Ian was now ascending nearly vertically with Raskagin’s massive trail of fog sweeping beside him.

Rumble! Boom!

The trailing azure flames were violently swept away by Raskagin’s chaos-infused winds.

Some engulfed the water pillars and continued burning, but most scattered uselessly into the sea below.

Got it. Let’s head straight for the underside of its jaw.

Deactivating the Heaven Defier azure flames without protest, Ian tilted his head slightly.

Above them loomed Raskagin’s gigantic head, jaws spread wide. Instead of its dark blue eyes, only the black-red lower jaw with sparse scales remained clearly visible.

Boom, boom, boom—

That was likely why Yog continued flapping its wings furiously, shooting upward while trailing directly behind Raskagin.

As the edge of the swirling fog rapidly approached, Yog added quietly,

—Let’s see once again just how greedy your chaos truly is, my friend.

At the same time, Yog thrust both wings and tentacles backward.

Without taking his eyes off the gigantic lower jaw rapidly approaching them, Ian extended the black sword blazing with the Heaven Defier Fang forward.

Crackle!

The violet trajectory stretching ahead like a massive greatsword pierced deeply into the sea dragon’s jaw.

An instant later, Ian slammed directly into it.

Crunch—

Ian drove the razor-sharp claws of his left hand and feet deep into the creature’s black-red flesh. By now, both claws and nails had already darkened into a murky green.

He had activated Unholy Claws.

Boom, boom, boom!

Immediately afterward, the tentacles lined with razor-like beak-shaped teeth shot outward and buried themselves in every direction.

They were not merely to absorb chaos, but also to lock Ian’s body firmly in place.

Meanwhile, the membranous wings folded inward like a shell, wrapping around him protectively.

Squirm! Squirm!

The tentacles writhed simultaneously as they began devouring both bodily fluids and chaos.

A sticky, chilling sensation spread throughout Ian’s entire body. Of course, he wasn’t merely clinging there passively.

Crunch!

Opening his maw wide, now packed with thorn-like fangs, he bit down savagely into Raskagin’s black-red flesh.

At the same time, he drove his long, sharpened tongue deep into the wound.

---------!

As Raskagin’s thunderous roar continued to echo, Ian focused all his attention on absorbing the chaos. In truth, he had no choice but to do so.

Thump... Thump...

The pulsating resonance of the essence bead fused through Yog shook throughout his entire body like a beating heart. Each pulse forced endless torrents of cold, viscous chaos deeper into him.

Whoosh—

Eventually, Raskagin’s near-vertical ascent slowed, but Ian, clinging beneath its jaw, paid it no mind and continued absorbing the chaos.

Even though his entire body already felt so full it might burst at any moment, he still didn’t stop.

Just... a little... more!

It felt as though he could force a domain into existence at any second.

Only a few seconds later, Yog spread its wings again and began pulling out its tentacles one by one.

—Unfortunately, we need to retreat now, my friend.

Raskagin stopped roaring and began tilting diagonally once more just after Ian leapt away to the rear with Yog’s help.

Whooom—

Still wrapped in a whirlwind of fog, the creature began plummeting once again. At its center, the much thinner ring of azure flames was still blazing fiercely.

Fuck!

Spinning upward through the air, Ian didn’t even spare it a glance. It felt like his body would explode if he relaxed for even a moment. In fact, various parts of his body were already writhing, swelling, and sinking repeatedly.

—Then let’s begin. I’ll help you through it.

That was when Yog, whispering languidly, spread its wings wide. The tentacles immediately began wrapping around Ian as though they had been waiting for it.

Ian offered no resistance and curled inward.

Thump... Thump...

The pulsing resonance echoing throughout his body became even clearer.

Ian focused entirely on suppressing the essence bead while directing his consciousness toward the chaos overflowing inside him.

He was trying to make the fused body absorb the chaos rather than the essence bead.

Crunch, crackle!

A horrifying series of cracking noises spread through his body almost immediately afterward. At the same time, he felt himself gradually swelling outward.

—Don’t lose consciousness, my friend. You can’t afford to get swallowed up like last time.

Yog’s whisper echoed faintly through his mind.

Replying inwardly that he already knew, Ian focused all his attention on suppressing the essence bead.

Thump... Thump...

The essence bead, slowly absorbing chaos, became vividly visible within his mental landscape. Of course, the unpleasant sensation of his entire body mutating also continued without pause.

Crackle...

Perhaps it would have been more fitting to call it metamorphosis or molting rather than mutation. After all, his external senses had been completely cut off, and the writhing tentacles had wrapped around him like a cocoon.

—This is as far as we go. Any further becomes dangerous. So unfortunately, I’ll have to siphon the rest away now, my friend.

Suddenly, Yog’s whisper became crystal clear. The resonance of the essence subsided in an instant, and all his senses sharpened as though he had awakened from a dream.

Whoosh—

Heavy, distant rumbling echoed through the tentacles surrounding him. It was likely the sound of Raskagin crashing back into the sea.

And indeed, it was.

To this extent?

Even though he hadn’t opened his eyes and the tentacles were still wrapped around his body, Ian could perceive Raskagin’s existence.

Not only the creature’s immense body, but also the fog spreading across the entire region, and even the enormous chaos contained within it, all of it unfolded clearly before him at once.

The sensation could only be described as transcendent. The overwhelming power surging through him felt the same.

—I’d love to devour every last drop, but sadly, I’m already far too full. So why don’t you just unleash the rest outward, my friend?

With Yog’s lazy whisper, the tentacles surrounding Ian began unfolding like blooming flowers.

Feeling that each one had become vastly thicker and longer, Ian finally opened his eyes. He finally realized that an additional pair of eyes had formed above and below his original ones.

His vastly enlarged body had also become immensely solid and heavy, almost as though clad in armor. The tentacles spreading outward were no different.

Swoosh—

Right afterward, he realized that another pair of wings covered in purple feathers had sprouted beneath the membranous wings. They looked remarkably similar to Akihatara’s wings.

—You’re still in a dangerously unstable state, my friend. Let’s empty it quickly.

Of course, the most urgent matter at the moment was something else entirely. The chaos he had failed to fully absorb was writhing throughout his body as though about to explode.

Ian suddenly threw his head back and opened his mouth wide.

--------------!

Along with a thunderous roar, waves of chaos erupted from him. The entire space rippled and was shoved away from him.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

—To think you succeeded in a single attempt....

As Yog’s languid laughter burrowed into his mind, a violet vortex began spreading like spilled paint through the center of the viscous darkness.

***

Whoosh—

The Silent Storm cut through the drifting fog as it surged over the waves.

They neither unfurled the sails nor rowed the oars because there was no need to. The ship had already been caught in a massive swirling current and was being dragged toward its center.

Yet neither the beastfolk and fairies on deck nor the sailors moved a single step. It wasn’t merely because escaping the current was impossible.

Beyond the faintly drifting fog, a towering blue shadow rose and writhed like a pillar. And the closer it became, the more impossibly enormous it appeared.

Raskagin....

At the soul-chilling roar echoing across the sea, Elia let out another quiet gasp.

The ancient god said to sleep within the abyss had finally awakened.

However, the reason Elia’s eyes glittered was not simply because she was witnessing a legendary being.

Rumble!

Whenever lightning illuminated the fog beyond, violet streaks crossing the heavens appeared alongside it.

"Why can’t you understand? We need to escape this current somehow!"

At the urgent voice rising once more behind her, Elia finally turned her head.

In front of the warehouse wall, beneath the stern deck, Diana, her mask shoved onto her forehead, shouted toward Nikau and Yalo, "If this keeps up, we’re all going to die. Every single one of us!"

Though quieter than before, her voice still carried unmistakable desperation.

As Yalo frowned thoughtfully, Nikau scratched his cheek indifferently and replied, "I already told you it’s impossible. Shouting won’t change anything."

"We can at least try."

"If we recklessly change direction now, the ship will capsize. Then we’ll die immediately."

"Then don’t do it recklessly. We’re going to die anyway if this keeps up!"

Elia stared intently at Diana, who struck her chest in frustration.

Diana had begun losing her composure the moment she first spotted those violet streaks in the sky.

Swallowing quietly, Elia finally stepped forward as though making up her mind.

Charlotte, who had been watching nearby with folded arms, interjected, "Calm down, Diana. It was Ian’s order."

As Diana paused and frowned toward her, Nikau nodded. "She’s right. Don’t forget that you were the one who delivered the Demigod’s orders in the first place."

"You have no idea how much I regret that right now. Damn it, I should’ve stayed behind." Diana squeezed her eyes shut and let out a groan. ℴℴ𝘮

It was immediately afterward that Yalo stroked his beard and asked, "For you to say something like that... what exactly do you know?"

"I absolutely can’t tell you... No, there’s no need to explain it. That thing is an ancient god. We’re being dragged straight toward that monster," Diana muttered with a sigh before suddenly shaking her head.

By then, Elia had naturally moved to stand beside her and whispered, "Is this because of Sir Ian?"