Published at 29th of June 2026 11:22 am

Chapter 347

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The Behemoth, forcibly pressed to the ground, thrashed its enormous body. A most humiliating posture for the King of the Primordial Forest. But no matter how much it struggled, getting up was impossible. It felt as if an invisible giant hand was pressing down on its body. Truly an immense pressure.

Rulers Authority Rakan recognized the nature of the power Suho was using. But it was on a different level from what he knew. Until now, Suho had used the Rulers Authority in the form of a skill. But now, it was different.

[...This is not a skill.]

It was as if... Suho himself had become a true Ruler. As if he were using the true authority he had possessed since birth. Rakan swallowed dryly and asked Suho again.

[Who... are you.]

He had to be extremely cautious. What if Suhos vessel was so vast that it couldnt be fathomed, if such a profound aura was felt even after receiving the Dragon Kings Primordial darkness, could he truly be satisfied with just one?

A Monarch cannot harbor more than one Primordial Darkness.

That was an impossibility. But... upon actually facing Suho, Rakan thought that perhaps it could be possible. If so, Suho... no, the entity that appeared in Suhos form, could it be aiming for the Primordial Darkness Gray was trying to inherit? Rakan was so bewildered by his aura that such a suspicion arose. But when Suho finally spoke, the tension that made the air feel as thick as water dissipated in an instant.

"Gray, youve worked hard. Youre quite impressive as you are now, however..."

"Grrrrrr!"

Suhos hand stroked him. Gray, in turn wagged his tail, rubbing his head against Suhos hand with a friendly expression. But then...

Faaaaaah

Riding Suhos hand, an unidentified blessing descended upon Grays head. A white light. No... a white shadow.

"Krrrrr?"

Instantly, Grays eyes trembled. All of his fatigue and accumulated wounds, from pushing himself beyond his limits until now vanished, melting away as if they were snow.

Flash!

All his energy was restored. Moreover a new energy welled up from Grays body. As if he had leveled up. Seeing Grays transformation, Rakan was greatly astonished.

[He... surpassed the wall!]

Rakans eyes could see it too. The fact that a tremendous change had occurred within Gray! It was unbelievable.

[To grow like this even without yet obtaining the Primordial Darkness...!]

"Its a level-up."

Suho answered his unspoken question. In a tone as if it were perfectly natural.

"Until now, Gray has consistently offered half of his experience points to me as a tribute. The system bound Gray to me that way. To assist my rapid growth."

[Pet: Gray]

That was Grays role as defined by the system. To offer half the sustenance obtained from hunting to Suho. A full half. But Suho had never once thought of him as a pet.

Comrade-in-arms.

Suho recalled the past events. Looking back, Gray was the very first companion who had fought alongside him. Now he had many allies, but Gray was the comrade-in-arms who had first lent him strength. Of course, Beru was there before him, but Beru only offered encouragement and advice, never fighting alongside him. Suho gently stroked Gray, who was enveloped in the white shadow, and spoke.

"Thank you for everything until now. So, Ill return what should have originally been yours."

Fwooosh

Through the white shadow, half the experience points he ever earned and gave to Suho returned to Gray. Which meant... Gray would become twice as strong.

"Take it. Ive added hefty interest."

No... even more than that.

Grrrrrrr!

[Good heavens...]

An exclamation mixed with a sigh escaped Rakans lips. Grays aura had changed. With Grays roar, a truly immense energy erupted as if exploding. Seeing that, Suho smiled contentedly and said.

"Until now, youve lent me your strength, so this time, lets do it the other way around."

Possession

Through the numerous battles Grays spirit had possessed Suhos body, lending him strength. That was possible because Suho was the priest for the dead Monarch. But now, there was no need for that. The dead Monarch. The one aspiring to be the next Monarch. And, the Primordial Darkness. All were gathered in one place at the same time. Suho, no longer as a priest, but as a comrade-in-arms, cheered Gray on.

"Go, Gray. Hunt that Behemoth and prove your worth."

At Suhos words, Grays lips curled into a wide smile. And as he turned his head again, looking at the Behemoth lying flat on its stomach, Grays eyes turned fierce.

Grrrrrrr!

The hunt began.

Boom!

The moment Gray leaped towards the Behemoth, the pressure pinning it also vanished. At that instant, the creature also sprang towards Gray, fearlessly charging at it.

Kraaaaaaaah!

Like a compressed spring suddenly released.

Kukwakwang!

A great collision occurred. But the Behemoth seemed sluggish, the attacks that had felt fast before now looked slow in Grays eyes. He lightly swatted away the massive arm with his front paw and lunged towards the monsters neck. But the Behemoth too was a predator. Instead of twisting its body to avoid the teeth, it raised its other arm and mercilessly struck Gray down.

Thwack!

The situation was similar to before, but the result was different. Its massive limb didnt fling Gray away; instead, he twisted his head sideways and bit squarely into that arm. Tendon. Artery. The correct hunting method taught to him by the former Monarch, Rakan. Not just biting wherever the mouth reached, but using the eyes and senses to spot the weak points that inflict fatal wounds on the prey. Then using the powerful fangs that pierce hide and flesh, puncturing its blood vessels!

Crunch!

[Skill Fatal Wound is activated.]

Grays fangs mercilessly tore into the Behemoths tendon. Then, the wound gaped open, and blood gushed out.

Grwoooooooar!

The Behemoths scream echoed. Just moments ago, Gray had been fighting like the weak against the strong. But now, with Suho, it was the exact opposite. He was employing the method of the strong hunting the weak.

Grrrrrrr!

At that roar, the Behemoths complexion changed drastically.

[Gray uses Skill: Contempt for the Weak.]

[Effect Fear is activated.]

[Targets all stats are reduced by 50% for 1 minute.]

Gray leaped and spun, thrusting his sharp fangs towards its eye.

Stab!

The Behemoths eye burst. In immense pain, the creature shook its body.

Krrrrraak!

Before Grays one-sided assault, the Behemoth realized how powerless it was. Under Suhos blessing, Gray thus became the true King of Beasts.

Kuuuuuuung

The fight was over. But it was merely the beginning. Starting with the Behemoth, all the predators of the Primordial Forest fell helplessly before Grays fangs. Hiding in the darkness was useless now. Suhos pure white shadow illuminated all the shades that had concealed them.

Awooooooooo!

Gray trampled them and howled towards the sky. Like a wolf. It was the moment the true ruler of the Primordial Forest was born.

"This should be qualification enough, Nidhogg?"

Suho looked up at the clear sky of the Primordia Forest and grinned. Then, Nidhoggs answer came from the unseen distance. Not with a voice, but with action.

Fhwiaaaaaak

Then, the Primordial Forest itself, surrounding Gray, melted away, becoming Primordial Darkness and beginning to be absorbed into Him. Gray, without the slightest panic, devoured that immense energy. As if it were only natural. Proudly.

[Finally, the time has come to relinquish my seat.]

Rakan nodded, relieved. He had been wary at first, but fortunately, Suho did not covet the Primordial Darkness meant for Gray. Thankfully, as always, he had actively helped Grays succession ceremony as a priest. At that, Rakan bared his teeth, smiling with utmost satisfaction as he looked at Gray.

[But the lineage of the Fang Clan ends with this. Gray, I shall leave you a new name.]

Ting.

[The King of Beasts, Monarch of the Hunt is born.]

Monarch of the Hunt.

A predator that always gives its all in the hunt, whether the prey is strong or weak. To think the pup, once caught and exploited by hyenas, would grow up to stand at the apex of the Primordial Forest like this. Rakan had watched over that entire growth process.

[This is all thanks to you, Priest... Sung Suho.]

The form of Rakan, the former Monarch, grew increasingly transparent as he turned to look at Suho. Amidst the Primordial Darkness swirling around Gray, as the Primordial Forest was sucked into Gray, Suho stood tall, unwavering, directly meeting his gaze. He spoke, smiling with utmost sincerity in his eyes.

[Thank you for everything, child of the shadow.]

"Thank you for everything too, Rakan. What happens to you now?"

[I return to nothingness.]

"Will I not see you again?"

Suho asked what he had always wondered. In the process of helping several Monarchs with their succession until now, the dead Monarchs never showed themselves again. He knew they returned to nothingness once the next Monarch was born. But he was curious about the process or principle. Until now, there was no way to know, but today, Suho had a brief moment of leeway to converse with Rakan, who was disappearing in the process of succession. At Suhos question, Rakan murmured with a surprised expression.

[See me again... Could it be that youve grown fond of me? Of me, who bared my fangs at your father?]

"Well, the more usable pieces one has, the better."

Rakan, growing even more transparent, let out a hollow laugh. And he spoke in a serious tone.

[A dead Monarch returns to nothingness. That is the established principle. Nothing changes.]

But as for the process or principle, only a Monarch who had personally experienced death could answer. What comes after death, one cannot know until one dies. Therefore, Rakan could answer a little more concretely.

[To be more precise, when a Monarch dies, he is swallowed by the Primordial Darkness he harbored. That is what it means to return to nothingness.]

Thump.

His transparent hand casually patted the head of Gray, who was engrossed in absorbing the Primordial Darkness.

[But when the next Monarch is born like this, the situation changes slightly. Much like when the former Shadow Monarch Ashborn passed all his power to your father. Just as Ashborn and Sung Jinwoo became one, I too will melt into the Primordial Darkness and become one with Gray.]

"Become one?"

[Yes. Its just a matter of who becomes the dominant entity, but its assimilation. Just as Ashborn disappeared, and your father came to exist as the Shadow Monarch. But Ashborn is likely still within your father, cheering on his endeavors. Is that answer somewhat satisfactory?]

As Suho nodded, Rakan chuckled and vanished from the spot. He had been absorbed into Gray along with the Primordial Darkness. Thus, Gray, having become the Monarch of the Hunt, had eyes that were different from before, mature and deep. Like Rakans. The dignity of a great Monarch that Suho had felt when he first met Rakan was now emanating from Gray.

Flash

Thus, Suho and Gray exited Nidhogg. They reunited with Sirka, Beru, and Ammut, who were waiting outside.

[Kieeeeeeeeeeeek! Young Master!]

Beru flew over, whimpering, and clung tightly to Suho. Behind him, Ammut crossed his arms and nodded.

[A new Monarch has been born. But, still not yet?]

Ammut looked at Suho and tilted his head. Like Gray, Primordial Darkness was felt from Suho. But if asked whether he had become a Monarch, not yet.

"Ah, I postponed the answer a bit."

Suho was still not a Monarch.

[Calculating advancement points...]

"I decided to answer after earning more advancement points."

At Suhos words, the white shadow beneath Suhos feet flickered. As if urging for an answer.

"Well then, shall we take care of the overdue tasks one by one?"

Suho immediately announced the next course of action.

"First, the Apostle of Conquest."

Without hesitation he moved towards where Arsha was holding the Apostle of Conquest captive.

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