Chapter 44

Located to the southeast was Jade Forest, one of the highest level zones in the Grandsky Realm. It was a region filled with towering bamboo shoots and hazardous weather. Though no clouds were in the sky, lightning struck at any large movement.

It didn’t matter whether it was a person, a monster, or the bamboo leaves rustling in the wind – all of it spawned lightning.

In addition to its dangerous environment, the minimum level of the monsters that roamed there was 800, with many at the celestial grade, making it a place of great peril.

At this very moment, somewhere in the Jade Forest, an abnormally smooth rock was placed in an open clearing, with a humanoid monster sitting cross-legged atop it. With dark green scale-like skin, the monster appeared as some type of reptile, claws, snout, tail, and all.

If any adventurer came across this scene, they’d be scared out of their wits.

For sitting there was Monster King Tyranus.

It was no fearsome monstrosity but a small, lithe creature that seemed almost harmless.

For the past week, Tyranus hadn’t moved a muscle when suddenly, its stomach rumbled hungrily. Slowly opening its eyes, Tyranus withdrew something from its inventory. It was a plate of food uncannily similar to what someone from the Innate Nation would order from a restaurant.

Unlike any other monster, Tyranus ate with a fork and a knife, exhibiting behavior typically seen in humans or elves. It even used a napkin to wipe its snout and drank from a cup.

Upon finishing, Tyranus looked into the distance, where another monster ate savagely.

The sight gave rise to complicated emotions.

In the past, it, too, was like that monster.

For years, Tyranus followed its instincts implanted by the System, utilizing its abilities to rise through the levels by hunting monsters and dimensional citizens alike. And though its nature as a monster forced it to clash against dimensional citizens, its characteristics were that of patience, stealth, and assassination, allowing it to maintain its safety for long periods.

Tyranus frequently recalled the day it killed the leader of the Conceptual Dimension and reached level 1,000.

It was like waking from a dream.

With lucidity came the realization of the self, ego, and consciousness.

At level 1,000, according to the System, Tyranus was now an awakened monster and gained everything a dimension citizen had, whether it be a status panel, inventory, or what have you.

There was one difference.

Although it wouldn’t get loot from killing monsters, it would from dimensional citizens.

Regardless, that moment was when Tyranus broke free from the shackles imposed on it by the System. It no longer went berserk at the sight of a human, orc, dwarf, elf, or demon. It could do whatever it wanted.

Following its freedom was loneliness.

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Dimensional citizens wanted it dead for its loot, and its fellow monsters were slaves to the System. Tyranus yearned for companionship – for an equal.

The Grandsky Realm didn’t have what Tyranus wanted, so it placed its hopes on an item it acquired from the leader of the Conceptual Dimension.

A gem the size of a hand.

A Dimension Core.

[Special] Conceptual Core (Mutated)

Description: Grants the holder administrative authority over the zones it has conquered. Fuse with the remaining Dimension Cores to become the absolute ruler of the Grandsky Realm and unlock access to the (Restricted).

Passive Skill 1: Gain control over the monsters that spawn in the zones you’ve conquered.

Active Skill 1: Surveillance. Grants an aerial view of a targeted section of a zone you’ve conquered. No cooldown. No mana cost.

Active Skill 2: Conquest. Grants the ability to compel the monsters within your conquered zones to launch an attack at a target location. No cooldown. No mana cost.

In Tyranus’ hands, the Dimensional Core underwent significant changes, becoming suitable for an awakened monster. Among the three skills, the conquest ability was what made Tyranus so fearsome.

Currently, of the 1,000 zones in the Grandsky Realm, Tyranus occupied 430 of them.

But that was the limit.

Tyranus was no fool - it was aware it couldn’t take on the Elemental Nation and Sin Dimension single-handedly, so it came up with a long-term strategy.

It would whittle down the Elemental Nation’s forces, weakening them to the point that the Sin Dimension’s natives couldn’t hold back from going in for the kill.

Tyranus had waited all these years and knew that time was fast approaching.

Thankfully, it just so happened to coincide with its next evolution.

Born as a transcendent grade monster, Tyranus possessed an ability unique across the Grandsky Realm. It could reconstruct its body, deciding what to add, remove, or enhance. Each modification sent the skill on a long cooldown period, with its last modification making the skill take over three hundred years to recover.

In seven years, the skill became available once more.

That was when Tyranus knew it could overpower any foe.

For now, it bided its time.

Waiting.

Watching.

Planning.

***

In Moonglade Grove, the Elemental Nation’s four ruler’s citadels floated above the capital, making their presence forever known to the city’s inhabitants.

Inside the flaming citadel, Torg Igneo stood before a balcony overlooking the city. The wind caused his clothes to flutter as he stood there, his gaze going past his territory below and to the east – where the Sin Dimension lay.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from behind.

“Why have you called me here?” a feminine metallic voice questioned Torg.

Turning around, Torg faced the newcomer, a stout dwarf with bronze-colored skin, her hair cut short. It was Rammy Isthmus, one of his fellow rulers.

Torg smiled, “Patience, Rammy. Wait for the others.”

“Fine.” Rammy harumphed and found somewhere to sit.

Torg leaned against the railing, arms crossed as the minutes passed.

Finally, two people holding hands entered the room: a man and a woman.

The woman was Isabel Aquarius, an orc with blue tattoos covering her body, while the man was Flynn Gustor, an elf with a thin, wiry physique.

With their arrival, all four rulers of the Elemental Nation were present, a rare occurrence. Torg spoke first, “I’ll get straight to the point. It’s time to eradicate the Sin Dimension.”

Towards Torg’s declaration, Isabel and Rammy immediately frowned.

As for Flynn, his expression grew thoughtful.

Torg continued without pause, “The Conceptual Dimension was once our greatest opponent. After defeating them, we would’ve wiped out the Sin Dimension if not for the appearance of Tyranus. Now, thanks to the Innate Nation, the opportunity has arrived. It’s time to finish what we initially set out to do.”

Flynn’s calm voice sounded across the room, “Although the Sin Dimension isn’t united, they possess several top experts. Who will face Wrath, Greed, and Gluttony?”

“Leave Gluttony to me,” Rammy answered, her expression eager.

Torg nodded. “If we work together, Flynn, I can handle Wrath and Greed. You just need to support from the back.”

“Hmm,” Flynn didn’t confirm or deny.

Isabel spoke for the first time, “You want to start another war. How many more will die for the sake of your conquest?”

“More will die if we do nothing!” Torg laughed, amused by Isabel’s naivety. “Tyranus remains a hidden threat while the demons harass our borders day and night. We’ve bled long enough!”

Seeing that Isabel remained unconvinced, Torg used a gentler tone, “If we remove the Sin Dimension from the equation, peace is all that remains.”

Isabel sighed and said no more.

Torg looked around the room, grinning.

The outcome was settled.

War!