[Today, I shall tell you about the World Tree.

Occasionally, the Dragon King Antares would have Suho sit and tell him very old stories. His
demeanor was like that of a grandfather, who had lived for long ages, telling tales to his
grandson, but it was also advice for the long war Suho would have to face.

However, it was also for himself.

The Dragon King Antares was revived thanks to Sung Jinwoo's scheme. Of course, he had
lost the Primordial Darkness and was no longer a Monarch, but such things mattered little.
Just because he lacked the title of Monarch didn't mean he couldn't fight. A flame born from
darkness that enjoys endless war…

That was the 'First Monarch' and the 'Strongest Monarch,' the king of berserk dragons
symbolizing fear and destruction, 'Antares.' The lifespan of their race was long, and he
himself would eventually grow stronger. No matter how young and weak Ragnar's reborn
body was, time would solve everything. It was a foregone conclusion that he would one day
grow to become the strongest being in this universe. And then…

'To fight Sung Jinwoo at full strength one more time.'

To fight and win against the one who had dealt him defeat. To inflict the humiliation of defeat
upon the Shadow Monarch. That was the goal Antares had set for this life. But as he
followed Suho and observed the situation of this world, he realized a serious problem.

[You should know what needs to be known.]

Perhaps it started from then. He started to tell Suho the facts he had realized from time to
time. He had to prevent this universe from disappearing before he could even fight Sung
Jinwoo again, didn't he?

[In the distant past, when the universe was just forming… all souls, upon death, flew towards
the World Tree.]

The beginning of that story was precisely the 'World Tree.' That giant tree towering in the
center of the Sea of the Afterlife was the divine tool crafted with the utmost care by the Itarim
who created this world. The World Tree accepted all those souls, purified them, and was the
center of reincarnation, allowing them to be reborn as new life.

[But in truth, that wasn't all. It had a more important function.]

The role given to the World Tree by the god was not merely a simple cycle device.

[The World Tree was the cradle and the tomb for us, the two forces.]

The radiant fruits that formed at the ends of the World Tree's high branches. From there, the
messengers of god, the so-called Rulers' soldiers, were born.
'Angels.'

The celestial warriors harboring sacred light were born from the fruit endlessly, carrying out
the god's command and protecting the entire dimension.

[But that alone does not create balance. The role of the World Tree has always been
balance and harmony, after all.]

Antares revealed an unexpected truth. It wasn't just the soldiers of heaven that were born
from the World Tree. Simultaneously, deep within the World Tree's massive roots, beings of
the exact opposite attribute were sprouting…

[Precisely, us. To be more accurate, all the races of the demonic realm we rule.]

That's right. The angels born from the celestial light and the races of darkness born from the
World Tree's shadow. All those opposing forces were being created above and below the
World Tree. Using dead souls as material.

[Fundamentally, the branches and roots of the World Tree are structured exactly the same.
Only the direction, up and down, is different. Because that is balance.]

The essence of the World Tree was balance. Therefore, if the fruits of angels formed at the
ends of the World Tree's branches, which spread their roots throughout all dimensions, then
likewise, from the ends of the countless roots growing below, the warriors of the earth were
being born. And the kings leading all those races were precisely the 'Monarchs' who
harbored the Primordial Darkness.

[Thus, light and darkness. Heaven and earth. The soldiers of the sky and the soldiers of the
land. Centered on a single World Tree, the two forces born for different purposes
antagonized each other, waging a long war.]

The reason for the war? There was no need to question it. From the moment they were born,
their natures were polar opposites. They were set up to antagonize each other from the start.

[The Rulers' mission is to serve the god and protect the world he created. In contrast, our
Monarchs' instinct is destruction. To hate the god and destroy all that he created… The
conflict between the two forces was perfectly natural.]

But that long war had already ended. When the god's messengers, by their own will,
murdered the god who had created them. But… the real problem occurred after that. This
was a problem no one had anticipated. Since it was hard to even imagine the god's
messengers ever rebelling in the first place. Naturally, no one anticipated what would
happen next. Neither the Rulers nor the Monarchs.

[When the god disappeared, the World Tree stopped functioning, and problems began to
arise.]
Even though the World Tree was dead, the dead souls invariably gathered towards it. For
purification and circulation. But now, such things did not happen. There was no next life. The
universe had stopped, to the point where even the Rulers' soldiers were no longer being
born.

[No new life will be born in this universe anymore. This body that has come to harbor me,
Ragnar, might be the last. It's fortunate that the egg was laid long before the World Tree
died. But this too matters little. What's important is the Primordial Darkness.]

As new Monarchs were not being born, the Primordial Darknesses remained together within
Nidhögg. And Nidhögg harbored the instincts possessed by those Primordial Darknesses as
well. The purpose given by the god: to destroy all things. The reason Nidhögg clung to the
World Tree and endlessly gnawed at its roots was precisely because of that. In short, what
the Dragon King Antares meant to tell Suho was ultimately this.

It was a perfectly natural instinct for Nidhögg, that giant serpent, to want to destroy the World
Tree. That if left alone, the World Tree, though already broken but at least preserving its
form, would eventually be completely devoured by the creature without even a trace left.
That then, even the slightest possibility of fixing the World Tree would disappear.

[If it goes that far, there is no future for this universe. A true end.]

The Dragon King guaranteed that reviving a universe that had already stopped was a realm
impossible even for the Shadow Monarch. Creation was truly the domain of a god.

So, until now, the Dragon King Antares had, knowingly or not, directly and indirectly helped
Suho weaken Nidhögg's power. The fact that he had passed on the Primordial Darkness he
harbored to Suho in the process was also because there was effectively no other choice. If
this universe were to be extinguished, everything would end. His own goal of raising Ragnar
to his fullest and fighting Sung Jinwoo once more would become completely impossible.

[…And you have splendidly eliminated Nidhögg. For now, you have prevented the World
Tree from being gnawed on any further.]

And recently, after Suho finally succeeded in having all Monarchs succeed their lineage and
breaking Nidhögg back down into the Primordial Darknesses, Antares praised Suho's
achievement for the first time.

[Well done. But…]

However, he did not forget a warning.

[You have not yet solved the fundamental problem facing this universe.]

Reviving the already dead World Tree was the domain of a god. This was something that
even as the Dragon King , he could not help or advise on. If it were destruction, perhaps, but
he had no talent for fixing things. But there was a clue.
[The only possibility is you. Sung Suho, it is you who has become the Guardian of the World
Tree…]

After meeting the Shadow of the World Tree, Suho had changed. Though he didn't know
exactly what had changed, the Dragon King had seen such a change once before. Precisely,
in his father, Sung Jinwoo. It was similar to when Sung Jinwoo became one with Ashborn
and was reborn as the true Shadow Monarch.

[So think. Rack your brain desperately. You can do it.]

The Dragon King adviced and encouraged him.

[If you decide on something, I will help you with all my might.]

Suho felt a truly strange sensation, receiving the heartfelt encouragement of Antares, who
was once his father's sworn enemy.

[So later, when you meet your father, be sure to tell him. Just this once… it's a temporary
alliance.]

After hearing that serious final statement, Suho couldn't help but burst into laughter. At his
reaction, the Dragon King tilted his head, but Suho couldn't bring himself to tell him. That…
contrary to the Dragon King's firm and stern gaze, Ragnar's form, in which he resided, was
extremely chubby and cute.

…Well, that was the story. And just as the Dragon King said, like Sung Jinwoo who had
become one with Ashborn, Sung Suho this time became one with the Shadow of the World
Tree. Then, there was knowledge he instinctively came to realize. The power given to him,
and the numerous 'ingredients' latent within him.

'The plan is set, and the ingredients are all gathered…'

Now, all that was left was to press the execute button. To awaken all the potential within him.

"Arise, Shadow Nidhögg."

Fwaaaaaaah—!

At Suho's command, the Primordial Darkness within all the Monarchs he had suppressed
until now burst forth as if exploding.

Starting with the King of Giants, Monarch of Conquest, Thomas Andre.

The ferocious darkness harbored by the King of Beasts, Monarch of the Hunt, Gray.

The cold darkness possessed by the King of Snow Folk, Monarch of Disaster, Sirka.

The heavy darkness held by the King of Monstrous Humanoids, Monarch of Trials, Ammut.
The void darkness that filled the Queen of Insects, Monarch of the Void, Arsha.

The extremely greedy and dense darkness within the King of Demons, Monarch of Gluttony,
Esil.

All that darkness, as soon as Suho's words ended, erupted towards him in unison. However,
its momentum was by no means favorable to Suho.

Grwoooooooar!

All that darkness transformed into the heads of Nidhögg, baring their teeth at Suho.

[Nidhögg, the Serpent that Gnaws at the Roots of the World Tree]

"Come."

At its center, Suho smiled darkly. Nidhögg was still the same. Even in this divided state, it still
fiercely opened its maw wide, lunging to devour the Shadow of the World Tree and its
Guardian. Watching the six Nidhögg heads, Suho spread his arms wide. And he drew forth
the last Primordial Darkness, the darkness inherited from the Dragon King , stirring within
him. Then, the seven heads of Nidhögg competitively swallowed Suho.

Chomp!

[…A dangerous act.]

Instantly, the chuckling voice of the Dragon King was heard in Suho's ear.

[But impressive. Is this the authority as the Guardian of the World Tree?]

"No, this is just an application."

Suho answered the Dragon King, and enveloped all the Nidhögg heads that had attacked
him with his pure white shadow. And then, combined.

"Aren't snakes also a type of dragon?"

[Huh?]

At those words, the Dragon King couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. Suho's demeanor,
jesting even in such a precarious situation, reminded him of his father. Of course, it wasn't
entirely pleasant. Long ago, Sung Jinwoo, in a slightly similar though different predicament,
had used 'Dragon Fear,' a specialty of the dragon race, to turn the tables. And Suho too.
Roared with all his might. Just like Sung Jinwoo of that day.

Kraaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
[Using 'Skill: Dragon Fear'.]

[…?!]

Then, at that moment. The true majesty of the King of Berserk Dragons, emanating from the
'Dragon King's Heart' proudly inherited from Antares in Suho's chest, engulfed the Nidhögg
heads. And the result was astonishing.

Grrooooaaak!

['Effect: Fear' is activated.]

[Nidhögg, the Serpent that Gnaws at the Roots of the World Tree, fears you.]

No matter how large and strong a snake, it could not withstand the fear emitted by the
Dragon King. Antares was the first and the strongest Monarch. And now, within Suho, was
the heart inherited from such a being . And all of these were the results and ingredients
Suho had cultivated through his own efforts until now…

"So I'm the boss. You bastards."

Suho, in turn, swallowed the six Nidhögg heads that had lunged to devour him. At that
moment, the day he had first encountered Nidhögg flashed in Suho's memory. The giant
serpent with seven heads, coiling around the World Tree. Its overwhelming presence was
truly of a cosmic catastrophe class. But now, that creature…

Blazing with a pure white shadow, soared up as one with Suho. Vertically, towards the Outer
God that had come from far beyond the universe.

[Grrooooooooooo—!]

And as the Dragon King had repeatedly said, the Primordial Darknesses were
fundamentally…

"A power meant to oppose gods!"

[Kieeeeeek! Thou finally hatched!]

Beru, having shrunk again, clung to Suho's, now Nidhögg's, head and roared with
excitement.