Leon confronted Trody, who revealed his special eye could see through lies and illusions. Trody admitted Leon's victim, Morin, wasn't his friend but a treacherous colleague he couldn't control. Leon struck a deal: Trody would become king and arrange women for him, and Leon would cover up Morin's death. Trody agreed, acknowledging Leon's power, and left to handle Morin's body. Leon then summoned Dusk, intending to question the World Tree.
Inside Lesrath’s chamber, five hours earlier...
With immense power, Lesarath unleashed a diamond strike towards Kumigano’s tail, causing a thunderous explosion that rent the air.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
...As the lingering dust dispersed, Lesarath stood imposingly over Kumigano, who lay near death on the ground, his tail utterly pulverized.
"BHAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN..." Lesarath bellowed, raising his hand. The diamond encasing his right fist gradually reshaped itself into the form of a formidable spear.
He lifted it high, then brought it down with his full velocity.
*SWISHHHH*
"NOOOOOO!" Leon’s voice echoed as he instantly materialized directly above Kumigano’s prone form.
Lesarath’s descending arm halted. He took a step back, fixing Leon with a look of bewilderment.
'Why dost thou interfere? I must dispatch Kumigano before he can possibly recover. Remove thyself from his body!'
"You asked me why I was helping you..." Leon stated, his expression grimly serious. "This is your answer. I intend to kill Kumigano."
'Thou wishest to slay Kumigano? But how canst thou hope to accomplish such a feat with thy meager vessel?'
"I will handle that. I did you a favor by healing you; now it’s time for you to return the favor."
Without another word, Leon reached into his inventory and retrieved a leather satchel. He approached Kumigano’s face, casting a backward glance at Lesarath.
"Can you hold its mouth open?"
Lesarath remained silent. He simply reached down and, with both hands, forced Kumigano’s jaw agape.
*Stretch—*
"Good," Leon commented with a smile. "Last meal, motherfucker. Open up wide."
He inverted the satchel, tipping its contents into Kumigano’s gaping maw.
Thousands upon thousands of wooden beads—each meticulously imbued with a full six hundred layers of Blast Seal—poured in simultaneously.
'What is this thou art doing? Is that some form of poison within thy small pouch? For Kumigano cannot be felled by mere poison.'
"It's not poison," Leon responded. Having completely emptied the satchel, he began to walk away. "Don't fret. Although this represents roughly an hour of my work, I never anticipated utilizing so much in a single location like this."
He paused, turning back to face Lesarath.
"You can release its mouth now and step away. The ensuing detonation could be immense—I've never detonated this quantity in unison before."
Lesarath complied without hesitation, retreating to a safe distance. He remained vigilant, prepared to finish Kumigano if he somehow withstood the blast.
Leon took cover behind a robust obsidian mountain, his heart rate accelerating.
'In many RPGs, the one who lands the final blow on a monster receives the experience points... and if that principle applies here,'
His hand clenched tightly.
'I am gazing upon an immense reservoir of experience points.'
He exhaled slowly.
"Kaboom."
*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
....
The successive explosions were deafening. The very earth convulsed relentlessly for a full two minutes, and an incandescent light consumed all within Leon's field of vision.
As the intense light finally subsided and the earth's tremors ceased, Leon slowly opened his eyes. A piercing ringing reverberated incessantly in his ears.
*Ting — Ting — Ting — Ting — Ting—*
Then, the system notifications appeared—hundreds of them, flooding his vision all at once.
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
...
...
....
"It worked..." Leon whispered, a broad grin stretching across his face. Then, the full realization struck him.
"HOLY SHIT IT WORKEDDDDD! FUCK YEAHHHH!" he roared at the top of his lungs.
[You have received the Title: {Third-Party King}]
---
[Title: Third-Party King]
[Rank: S]
[Description: This title automatically activates when you intervene in a conflict as a third party. If both combatant factions fall below 50% HP, all your damage against them increases by 800% for thirty seconds.]
[Note: The title only functions when both fighting parties are at least 100 levels above the host.]
---
"Third-Party King... that's a pretty cool title," he muttered. Then, a thought occurred to him. "Wait—what level am I even at? Status."
A new interface materialized before him.
---
[Name: Leon Luster]
[Class: Dark Summoner]
[Race: Human (79%)]
[Level: 125]
[Mana: 250,000 / 250,000]
[HP: 128,000 / 128,000]
[Skills:
’Thou art stronger than thou appear... Might I have the pleasure of knowing thy name?’ Lesarath’s voice echoed within his mind.
"Leon. Leon Luster." He responded, maintaining a completely impassive expression.
’Well done in slaying Kumigano, Leon Luster. I, Lesarath, wouldst bestow upon thee a reward worthy of thy deeds.’
Lesarath then turned and began to depart.
Leon emerged from behind the obsidian mountain. His gaze swept over the remnants of Kumigano. The creature's face had been utterly obliterated by the blast, yet the rest of its colossal body remained largely intact.
"Wait... is that—?"
A tiny white light flickered directly above Kumigano’s corpse, faint but unmistakably present.
"Hahaha... That soul fragment is mine."
He charged towards it with all his might. The instant he approached, the light intensified dramatically.
<Soul Collector>
The fragment was immediately absorbed.
"Nexus. I've just sent another soul fragment your way — enlighten me about it."
’Hmm... This is an exceptionally potent soul fragment. Transforming it into one of your soul realm’s guardians will prove exceedingly difficult, but I shall endeavor to my utmost.’
"Good." Leon’s smile broadened as his attention returned to the immense carcass. "In the meantime, I shall make use of the body."
<Summons of Darkness>
---
Back to the present—
"So... you not only befriended an SS-rank monster, but you also eliminated one of the masters?"
Dusk stared at him, a mixture of astonishment and admiration on his face.
"That must be why your aura felt so completely different when you exited that room."
"Well, yeah." Leon offered a nonchalant shrug, a grin playing on his lips. "Though I'd contend it was a collaborative effort. I merely claimed his kill. Hehe."
Their pace lessened as they approached the base of the World Tree.
"What should I inquire about it, master?" Dusk looked up at the colossal tree, appearing uncertain.
"Ask it..." Leon replied, his eyes locked onto the tree, "...if there exists any method to transport it to the dungeon’s exit without physically carrying it in my grasp."
