Novel The Max Level Hero has Returned!

Chapter 168

“We’re… We’re in trouble!!!” A couple of elven guards, who were watching the area, broke inside of the ceremonial hall with urgent looks. “The… The corruption is crossing the barrier and approaching us quickly! We have to run!!!”

At the elven guard’s words, the elves worshiping the supreme-rank spirit jumped up with their eyes wide open.

“What… What in the world?!”

“This place has abundant spirit energy, how can the corruption get here?!”

As if to prove the guard’s words, the vitality of the beautiful forest, which was filled with a dazzling purple light, started to fade away. At the same time, the warm air turned chilly and proved everyone’s earlier words false. If Davey were to describe this, he would easily tell that the corruption was on its way here.

The entire forest was being corrupted at this moment. And as the one who best knew the truth, Yuria’s face turned ugly and her emotions affected her will, which was linked to the summoning of the supreme-rank spirit, Ellestra. The supreme-rank spirit’s gigantic figure began to crumble and fade.

“Children who don’t listen to their elders should be reprimanded. Besides, this is probably the result of you allowing the child with contaminated blood in her veins to live in this village for too long.”

A man walked through the crowd of flustered elves with a cold smile. Following right behind him were all of the conservative elves. However, the problems did not end there. A woman elf with a mask on her face and a blue uniform, which was different from the other elves’ clothes, escorted them all while exuding a mind-numbing aura.

“That… That uniform, don’t tell me…”

“Ancient Guard.”

“Why is the guardian of the Divine Tree here?!”

“The rebound from the failure of summoning a supreme-rank spirit is huge. The chief is now in a critical condition. From this moment on, all authority will be transferred to the most senior elder. I, Condae, will now take over.”

“El… Elder Condae. What in the world…?” The pale Yuria spoke with great difficulty. She tried her best to hold on to Ellestra’s fading summons.

“That cursed brat, who inherited that dirty blood, had gone to the source of corruption. That’s because of her useless curiosity. And then? She fell into a swamp! That’s the reason why the corruption accelerated. There is no turning back now.”

“Do you think you make sense? That place is off limits! Myuu is a very smart and good kid. She listens to her elders well!”

“Then, do you think I’m lying right now?

Tsk, tsk.

The chief does not believe the words of the elders that they should respect. This is something that I couldn’t imagine when I was young.”

“That’s not something that we should hear from an elder who has abandoned their honor from the very start!!!” Elder Condae raised his head arrogantly and said, “There’s nothing you can do. Give up this forest and return to the Divine Tree.”

“We… We won’t!”

“I am the current commanding authority! Are you telling me that you will defy my orders even if you’re going to die soon?!” Elder Condae screamed, his anger soaring. He made everyone flinch. “Just look! Just look at what happened to you after following the words of your young chief Yuria Helishana! The forest is corrupted and can no longer be revived! Your chief, who confidently declared that she would summon a supreme-rank spirit with the help of such an ugly and disgusting human, failed!”

Feeling the chilling atmosphere, Elder Condae smirked viciously. He snapped, “But that’s not all. The dirty half-blood that used to follow your chief eventually finished the entire forest. If you still dare to defy me, then I will use force!”

Condae, as if he had finally organized all of his pieces on the board, turned to look at Davey and declared, “Human, you will die here. And Yuria will return to the Divine Tree. The truth is now clear.”

“Then, is it my turn to speak now?” Davey grinned. His hands, still on the magic circle, were very relaxed and at ease. The damn fish that had been bothering him from the very beginning finally took the bait.

The fish jumped around excitedly, very confident that he would be able to break the fishing line. However, the fish did not know that the line was very tough, just like thread made from oricalchum.

“I recall that I made something clear when I entered this forest.”

“What…”

“The choice is yours and so is the responsibility for the consequences of your choices.”

‘Maybe he knows?’

“Ah, that position is perfectly within my attacking distance.”

Slash!

After a red flash, a quick yell could be heard. At the same time, a part of Condae’s hair fell down with blood dripping down his otherwise white and pristine cheek.

“Oh my! My hands slipped.”

Condae widened his eyes, his pupils trembling. His mind was left completely blank from Davey’s relaxed voice. Then, he hurriedly threw something out as he screamed, “Kill… Kill him! Kill that bastard!”

Condae continued to scream as the bead that he threw in the air released black currents in the air.

Shwaaaaaaaa!

The black current took control of the entire area and suppressed the holy power and mana that was coursing through Davey’s power, forcing it to change and turn into spirit mana.

Spirit mana was mana that could not strengthen one’s body. It could not even bring out an [Aura Blade] or even express magic.

“Kill… Kill him quickly! The barrier will not last long!” With Condae’s shout, the woman, who the elves called an Ancient Guard, charged at Davey.

The reason why a master-rank being had a strong impact and sense of presence was because of their skilled mastery of mana. Mana and holy power could give someone plenty of abilities. However, the biggest takeaway for someone trained in the martial arts was the fact that these two powers could enhance their physical capabilities and allow them to transcend their own limits as a human. If all of these had been restricted, would a master-rank individual still be able to do something? Of course not.

Condae was fully aware of that fact. That was why he took his trump card and used it to overpower Davey.

In no time at all, a blue dagger appeared and stabbed straight at Davey’s neck. However, instead of panicking at the woman’s sudden attack, Davey smiled and said, “Giving me a large amount of spirit energy and even amplifying what’s around me… Thank you, I’ll use it well.”

The pearl, which had been sleeping quietly inside Davey’s pocket plane, appeared in the forest and shone a brilliant light. In an instant, Davey was able to grab the pearl with both hands, dragging and pressing it on his chest as he chanted the trigger spell.

[Release.]

The effects of the huge power’s essence of the origin of existence and the root of nature, the Spirit King, was unimaginably simple. Spirit Kings had the power to forcefully take over powers and possess the body supreme-rank spirits. They also had complete power over all of the spirits. All of the spirits were equal in front of their presence.

There were actually three things needed to summon a Spirit King. One, a contract with a supreme-rank spirit. Two, complete assimilation with the said supreme-rank spirit. Three, the final piece, was a pure will.

[Heed my orders.]

Fwiiiiish!

“Ugh!”

An enormous amount of energy surged inside Davey.

The woman, the Ancient Guard, who attacked Davey flew back. She was devoid of the power of the spirit, which had now been sucked inside Davey.

Davey completely ignored the wide-eyed Elder Condae, who was watching the entire situation in disbelief, and turned towards the half-dead and panting Yuria. He stretched out his arm.

[I command you. Halt.]

As if they had turned into an incantation[1], Davey’s words turned the body of Water Dragon Ellestra, who was kept at bay despite the risk, into droplets of water.

Shwaaaaaa!!!

The huge power from the summoning ritual lost its purpose after the interruption, scattering in all directions. Davey began to recite his words quietly, his hands reaching out once again.

[I command you. Merge.]

Shwaaa!!!

Davey completely ignored everyone, who was watching slack jawed at the sudden turn of events. He made eye contact with Yuria, who smiled helplessly and finally let go of her hold on Ellestra’s figure, something that she was keeping with all her might.

The rebound immediately engulfed Yuria, forcing her to vomit mouthfuls of blood and taking her consciousness away. Despite that, a small smile still appeared on her face. Before she could completely slip away, she said, “I leave…everything to you.”

Elder Condae must have known by now the true meaning of the saying,

‘Made the soup yet everything’s gone to the dogs!’

***

The sudden turn of events and the ritual’s termination, which led to the tremendous power brewing in Davey’s hands, started to devour the surroundings and left everyone at a loss.

“What… What is this?!”

But instead of answering everyone’s questions, Davey just started to command the tremendous force that was running wild in his hands to rotate and change its property. Actually, the spirit mana that Yuria handed over was basically unnecessary. However, the thing that Davey needed from Yuria was her pure will and desire to summon a spirit.

Everyone silently and blankly watched Davey lower the tremendous power in his hands on the floor and kneel down on one knee. They watched as Davey started to recite his incantation.

[The One that encompasses the world below from the beginning of time.]

[The solid and firm existence that upholds the covenant.]

[The being that manages the flow of the earth and calms its strong turbulence.]

[I beseech thee. Keep the promise that thou swore on thy name and follow the covenant.]

[In the name of Davey O’Rowane.]

[In thy name that became the source of the earth.]

[Thy name granted to thee by the Great Will.]

[Gnoass.]

Everyone widened their eyes even further when they heard the final word that Davey uttered. It was only natural. After all, it was obviously Yuria who had summoned the supreme-rank spirit. However, as if following the steps to a plan, she had handed over the baton to Davey. And now, a completely incomprehensible and unimaginable being was going to appear under his summoning.

“Gnoass?!”

“The… The Spirit King?!”

The elves’ flustered voices rang out. Everyone knew that those who had not yet summoned a spirit had to start summoning and signing a contract with a low-rank spirit. This was the absolute law. They could only follow these steps slowly and gain power through a step-by-step manner. This was common sense. Yet, someone like Davey had suddenly appeared in front of them and brought out not a low-rank spirit but a mythical existence right off the bat.

The elves believed that they were already lucky to have witnessed the appearance of a supreme-rank spirit for once in their lives. However, they were suddenly presented with the highest being, the source of the earth, the origin of the ground, the Earth Spirit King Gnoass.

The power that a Spirit King possessed was enormous. Even if Gnoass was only newly summoned, the power that he could command right away was already comparable to the level of power that Davey had right now. That was how strong and powerful an existence Gnoass was.

If someone heard what Davey was doing right now, they would call bullshit. They would claim that there was absolutely no way that Davey would succeed in summoning such an existence. That he would bleed and collapse even before the Spirit King could take its form. In fact, everyone present here thought this way. There was no other reason except that it was common sense. But…

Vwooooooong—

The great being moved excitedly, as if responding to Davey’s call. It showed its tremendous presence and power, a power that made Water Dragon Ellestra, the spirit that Yuria had tried to summon and barely materialized, pale in comparison.

62. The Earth’s Master, Gnoass.

Unlike Yuria, who had done meticulous preparations and even had the help of a magic circle to summon a supreme-rank spirit, Davey did everything with his own hands.

“He’s… He’s really going to be able to summon it?!”

The one who was most shocked by this event was none other than Elder Condae. His eyes, which were completely trained on Davey, were filled with shock. It was like his eyes would fall out at any moment.

Vwoooooooong!

Finally, a huge tremor rocked the ground. The tremendous amount of spirit mana that had been stored in Davey spread and covered the entire area. Perhaps it was because the amount of spirit mana released was so tremendous that everyone present felt their skin prickle despite the energy being colorless, odorless, and intangible.

Everyone held their breaths and watched Davey silently. The lumps of soil gathered in front of Davey, his spell’s flow changing for a brief moment.

‘Watch! This is the Davey-Style Spirit King Fishing method!’

1. 언령 – 言霊 (ことだま) or kotodama, the belief that words contain mystical power. ☜