The two soulless versions of Anemore, despite their lack of a soul, were visually and physically more overwhelming than any other summon Seong had encountered.
Even when compared to Barfur, who had undergone the same evolution through Transcended Death and was appointed as a Death Legion commander, the power emanating from these two forms was unmatched.
The Anemore of Lightning radiated crackling energy, its electric surges scorching the ground around it, while the Anemore of Thunder sent deep, resonant waves rippling through the air, shaking the earth with each pulse.
And then there was the original Anemore, housed within the Ash Crow Queen’s body, observing the other two with glowing eyes.
It was a surreal scene.
Seong scratched his head.
"Where should I place it?"
The experiment had been a resounding success, but now he faced a dilemma—where to embed Anemore’s soul.
Both forms were still technically Anemore’s body, meaning either choice would allow the soul to function optimally.
However, what would he do with the remaining body?
Even without a soul, the body could move and fight, but using it soullessly felt... wasteful.
"Should I find a raid boss nearby, preferably in bird form, and transfer their soul here?"
Using the body for a field boss or dungeon boss’s soul felt like a waste given its potential.
As Seong mulled over the possibilities, a piercing screech echoed through the air.
—Kaaaaaaaaw!
Turning to look, Seong saw that Anemore had made its choice, standing proudly in front of the Anemore of Lightning and smiling, as though it had found its perfect vessel.
"Well, that’s settled," Seong muttered.
The Ash Crow Queen’s body that Anemore was currently inhabiting could be repurposed for another Ash Crow.
That brought to mind a familiar name: Kaishak, another bird-form raid boss who might have the strength to handle the Thunder Anemore.
"Would Kaishak even want this body?" Seong wondered.
There was a possibility that Kaishak might prefer her current form, but it didn’t hurt to ask. After all, her original body had already been undead-ified.
If Kaishak declined, Seong could always look for another raid boss to occupy the body.
"That settles it," Seong decided.
He summoned Kaishak and the Ash Crows from the Netherworld.
Appearing in a flurry of feathers, Kaishak and the Ash Crows immediately took defensive stances, prepared for combat. They soon realized there were no enemies, their postures relaxing into confusion.
"Kaishak, do you think you could use that thunder-infused body over there?" Seong asked, gesturing toward the Thunder Anemore.
Kaishak hesitated, clearly torn as she stared at the body.
The Thunder Anemore was a striking figure, its dark, rippling aura infused with raw thunder energy. The body exuded power and was undoubtedly tempting.
But possessing such a form wasn’t without risk. Could she handle it?
After a long pause, Kaishak seemed to steel herself, stepping toward the Thunder Anemore with a resolute nod.
"Oh?"
Seong could see the determination in her eyes. Her resolve to grow stronger and prove herself was evident, and it earned Seong’s approval.
He nodded in return and, after identifying a suitable replacement Ash Crow for the queen’s former body, transferred Kaishak’s soul into the Thunder Anemore.
At first, Kaishak seemed to struggle with the evolved form, awkwardly moving and testing her limits.
Meanwhile, Anemore, now occupying the Anemore of Lightning, adjusted to its new body almost immediately.
Where Anemore displayed an imposing presence, Kaishak appeared more graceful yet hesitant, her movements unsure.
"Hmm."
The contrast between the two was clear. Anemore radiated confidence and power, while Kaishak exuded elegance but seemed overwhelmed by her new body’s potential.
"Only one way to fix that," Seong said.
He clapped his hands together, breaking the silence.
"How about we go hunting?"
Not only could Seong test his newly acquired skills, but it would also help Kaishak adapt to her new form.
Anemore’s thunderous cry echoed louder than ever before.
—KAAAAAAAW!
Kaishak’s response, however, was softer, tinged with uncertainty.
—Kaaawk...!
"Let’s see how these new powers hold up," Seong said with a grin, summoning his companions as they prepared for their hunt.
3.
The sound of a monstrous roar tore through the air, sharp and grating.
—Moooooooh!
It wasn’t the typical bellow of a cow but a scream filled with primal aggression.
This was the Red Minotaur, a monstrous beast known to roam the Dune Wild Trail.
With its massive physique and deadly horns, the Red Minotaur’s charge was infamous among players, making it one of the most feared monsters in the region.
Its colony was located in an area so ominous that even the daring Hippies of the Trail, known for their resilience, avoided it.
The Red Minotaur’s dominance wasn’t just due to their sheer numbers but also to one singular entity—its champion.
Inside the grand central hut of their colony, a heavy, earth-shaking sound resonated.
—Boom. Boom.
The colossal figure of the Champion Red Minotaur Chieftain, Taurak, emerged from the shadows.
As it stepped out, the other minotaurs froze, dropping their tasks to bow in reverence.
They lowered their heads in fear and admiration, their respect palpable.
Taurak roared, a sound so mighty that it shook the ground beneath its feet.
—MOOOOOOOOOH!
The sheer force of its cry conveyed its overwhelming power.
This was no ordinary chieftain but a true champion, an elite boss monster whose appearances were the stuff of legend.
Taurak had kept the colony safe, ensuring prosperity and peace for his kin.
It was this thought that pleased him as he prepared to hunt.
But then, a strange, ominous energy swept over the area.
—Moooh?
Taurak tilted his head, puzzled.
Nothing in this region should possess such a presence.
Could it be a new boss monster foolish enough to challenge his domain?
If so, Taurak would remind them of whose land this was.
But as the ominous energy grew, the world around the colony darkened.
The sun blackened, and the sky was consumed by shadow.
From the darkness above, black flames descended like tendrils, enveloping the land.
Even Taurak’s mighty domain was not spared.
—FWOOOOM!
The black fire spread rapidly, consuming everything in its path.
The minotaurs screamed in panic.
—MOOOOH!
—MOOH!
—MOOOOOOOOH!
The wails of the Red Minotaurs echoed across the desolation, their weaker kin incinerated first in the black flames that spread like an unstoppable inferno.
Taurak, their champion chieftain, moved to intervene, but before he could act, the ground beneath him seemed to collapse, swallowed by a deeper shadow. Dozens of dark hands burst forth, clawing and gripping his massive frame, holding him in place.
—MOOOOOOOOH!
Taurak roared in rage, his muscles swelling as he struggled to free himself. But it was futile. No matter how much strength he exerted, his body remained motionless, as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss.
He had to protect his tribe, yet he could not move, trapped and helpless in the face of an unseen foe.
As he flailed in the void, something began to approach. Its indistinct form shifted with a menacing, deliberate gait, but Taurak couldn’t identify it.
Then, a sensation rippled through his massive frame, foreign and terrifying.
—Chitter-chitter. Crawl-crawl.
It was as if countless insects were swarming over his body, their tiny legs skittering along his skin. The horrifying illusion grew more vivid as the vermin invaded his senses, crawling into his mouth, his ears, every part of him.
Taurak’s worst childhood fear—worms—manifested before him, slithering and writhing, consuming him from the inside.
—MOOOOOH! MOOOOOOOOOH!
The terror was so overwhelming that he failed to notice his life force draining away. Even the thought of his tribe faded, leaving only a primal desperation to escape.
Suddenly, the illusions vanished, and his body was freed. Gasping, Taurak tried to flee, but the ominous pulse of the black sun above stopped him in his tracks.
—Thump. Thump.
The sun’s heart-like rhythm intensified, resonating through the battlefield.
The flames and shadows that had ravaged the area began to take shape, rising like soldiers answering their master’s call.
The blackened earth trembled as thunder roared across the heavens, accompanied by clouds that cloaked the already darkened sky in an even deeper gloom.
Amidst the chaos, bolts of turquoise lightning flashed, cutting through the darkness like jagged blades.
The storm’s ferocity culminated in a devastating lightning strike that scorched the ground with terrifying precision.
—BOOOOOOM!
The massive Red Minotaurs caught in its path were electrocuted, their bodies torn apart by the sheer force of the blast.
In a single strike, dozens of Minotaurs fell, their cries drowned out by the resounding echoes of the storm.
Chaos reigned.
It was as if the end of the world had come, and Taurak, the mighty champion, could only watch as his tribe was annihilated.
And then he saw it—a black serpent slithering through the carnage.
At first, it seemed small, almost harmless, but its presence was anything but.
When it opened its maw to devour one of the Minotaurs, a sinister whisper escaped its jaws.
—Ssssshhhhhhhhh...
The Minotaur, hypnotized by the sound, walked willingly into the snake’s mouth. Though its body twisted in agony, it did not die.
With each consumed victim, the serpent grew, its size swelling to monstrous proportions. Soon, it was large enough to engulf entire huts.
Despite its serpentine form, the creature moved with an unnerving linear precision, its gaze fixed on one target: Taurak.
—MOOOOOOOOH!
Enraged, Taurak charged, ready to defend his honor, but before he could act, a bolt of turquoise lightning struck him directly.
—CRAAAAAACK!
The impact seared the ground and filled the air with the acrid scent of burned flesh. Taurak’s mouth opened wide, expelling thick black smoke.
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The strike was devastating, yet it wasn’t enough to kill him outright. He staggered, his mighty frame still intact, only to be enveloped by the subsequent wave of thunder.
—BOOOOOOOM!
The shockwave battered him, though its force was less than the lightning. Taurak barely endured, his body trembling as he regained his footing.
When he opened his eyes, the colossal black serpent loomed before him, now larger than the huts of his village.
Its mouth opened wide, and the whispering began again.
—Ssssshhhhhhhhh...
—GULP!
In an instant, Taurak was consumed, his form vanishing into the snake’s abyssal depths.
Watching from a distance, Seong nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad at all."
From the new skills to the newly evolved forms of Anemore, everything had exceeded his expectations.
The only downside? Despite taking down such a powerful entity, he hadn’t gained a single level.
"There’s still more to test," he muttered.
He had yet to assess Drakanos’s full capabilities or experiment with the new items he had acquired. However, he wasn’t sure if Drakanos, in his frail state, could handle such intense combat scenarios.
"Maybe he’s more of a training knight," Seong mused, picturing Drakanos’s role as a mentor rather than a front-line fighter.
Still, the results from today’s tests left him deeply content.
As he reflected, Leonic approached, his skeletal form brimming with enthusiasm. He clapped his bony hands together in a show of admiration.
—"Truly extraordinary, my Lord! An utterly overwhelming display of power!"
Leonic’s praise was echoed by Noctrynnium, who belatedly nodded and clapped along.
"Indeed, my Lord! Absolutely magnificent!"
Even Fiora, hesitantly looking around, chimed in with a timid voice.
—"M-Master, you were... so cool! Amazing, truly!"
Seong, embarrassed by the sudden flood of compliments, cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem."
Despite the embarrassment, the praise didn’t feel bad.
Just as he was beginning to relax, Leonic suddenly knelt on one knee, bowing his head.
"What’s this about?" Seong asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Leonic raised his gaze, his tone serious.
—"I have a request to make, my Lord. Please, hear me out."