'Devil in the Ring.'
Former UFC Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Thomas Andre was a man who had claimed the title of 'Humanity's Strongest' through pure physical might even in an era before mana or magical beasts existed on Earth. And at this moment, the entire history of violence he had walked throughout his life was being unleashed madly upon the giant beast. A truly overwhelming violence!
[Kaaaaugh!]
Struck by his fist, the giant butterfly's body crashed in front of the Statue of Liberty. A tremendous shockwave spread throughout downtown New York. The windows of nearby buildings completely shattered. An enormous spray of water scattered like a tsunami, centered around the two giants battling on the water. Amidst it all, Thomas Andre didn't stop punching for a single moment. Instead, he grabbed the head of the creature that tried hiding beneath the surface, forcibly lifted it, and continued to unleash overwhelming violence.
[H-how can this be…!]
The Apostle of Conquest couldn't hide its confusion.
[This power, don't tell me…!]
Separated from the pouring violence and the accompanying pain, their collective intelligence desperately tried to comprehend the current situation. But they simply couldn't understand. Simultaneously, their massive body struggled desperately to counterattack. But it was insufficient.
Kwaaang!
Thomas Andre's kick bent the giant butterfly's back at a 90-degree angle, and launched it upwards.
"Capture!"
He stretched out his hand, generating an immense gravitational pull.
Fwoooosh—
Desperately resisting, the butterfly flapped its wings, attempting to flee skyward as if seeing an opportunity. But its effort was futile. Suddenly, the Apostle of Conquest's body was forcibly dragged towards Thomas.
Splash—
Once again, there was a cold gaze looking down from a great height, at the beast that had fallen into the water.
"Where do you think you're running? This body once dragged down even the great Kamish from the sky."
Thomas laughed savagely, clasped his giant hands together, and slammed them down hard on the head of the Apostle of Conquest as it tried to rise again.
Boom!
[How can such power… Why….]
The giant butterfly uttered a lament rather than a scream.
"Why? What's so surprising?"
[How dare the likes of you harbor the Primordial Darkness—!]
"Ah, so that's what you were curious about."
Thomas grinned wickedly, concentrating immense mana into his fist.
'Skill: Smash.'
That fist accurately pierced the Apostle of Conquest's torso.
Craack—!
[Kuaak…!]
Finally, cracks began to form on the creature's massive body. Although its appearance resembled a butterfly, when an insect grows this large, its surface looks less squishy and more like that of a crustacean. This was because its entire joints and surface were covered in armor resembling hard, gleaming metal. Yet, a hole was punched through that hard armor. By an overwhelming force.
Fushaaaa—
And as the giant's fist was withdrawn from the hole, golden divine energy burst out like a fountain. Spreading in all directions. It rained down upon the streets of Manhattan. At the sight, people shrieked and fled to avoid contact with the light.
[Krrrk… You… How….]
Writhing in agony, the Apostle of Conquest still couldn't hide its confusion. How could a mere human, of all things… Why could the 'Primordial Darkness' be felt from such a being!
To that, Thomas replied with a leisurely smile.
"The Tower of Trials."
[…What?]
"I logged in the fastest. Fastest in the whole world."
[…?]
Words that made no sense. But did it matter if the creature understood or not? Thomas Andre felt pride in being the first user.
"Since I started the fastest, I leveled up ahead of anyone else. I followed the game's story ahead of anyone else. And at the end of it… I met the 'King of Giants'."
[…!]
Even if it was… an illusion within a game created by the Monarch of Trials and Harmakan. It was sufficient as a trial to prove his qualifications.
* * *
Just a few minutes ago, Thomas Andre had been inside a game capsule. And his soul, possessing an avatar in the Tower of Trials, was experiencing the life Sung Jinwoo had lived. Countless level-ups. Dungeons. And…
'First Class Change.'
Based on the deeds and experiences engraved upon their souls, the Tower of Trials bestowed various classes upon the players worldwide. Along with skills appropriate for those classes. And Thomas Andre, too, underwent his first class change.
'Titan.'
Perhaps thanks to his experiences in the previous world, the class Thomas Andre obtained was a tanker, cladding himself in armor and fighting magical beasts head-on. His main skill was 'Giant's Armor.' But Thomas Andre wasn't satisfied with just that. To become as strong as before, no, even stronger than before. He gathered more money, bought runestones. And he lived Sung Jinwoo's life as guided by the Tower of Trials. And at the end of it… He finally encountered him. The King of Giants.
[King of Giants, Monarch of the Beginning Legia]
Deep within the dungeon. The King of Giants, bound in chains. The moment he first saw Legia, Thomas Andre opened his mouth in surprise and excitement.
– Beautiful…
Looking at Legia he was genuinely impressed. Forcibly sealed here, black chains connected to the dungeon walls not only wrapping around him layers deep but also piercing his body. It was such a horrific sight that one wondered what great sins must have been committed to warrant such punishment. But despite that, a massive and oppressive power stirred within him.
[Hahahaha!]
Legia, whose entire body except for his face was bound, burst into hearty laughter. Looking down at the small human who had found him.
[Amusing, truly amusing! You despicable Rulers, behold who has found me first!]
Listening to Legia's laughter, Thomas stopped at a moderate distance, neither too far nor too close. And looked up at him.
[Release me… undo the chains.]
Legia said.
[I know the Rulers' plans. Quickly, I must inform the other Monarchs…]
Legia's words cut off abruptly. His eyes, filled with joy just moments ago, became unnervingly calm.
[You… are not the one I know.]
Thomas Andre's and Legia's gazes locked. Thomas's heart pounded violently. This was exactly what he wanted. A large, powerful being, an opponent that made his heart race.
[Perhaps the Monarchs and Rulers alike will target you. You currently lack the strength to face them all. To stand against them, you too will need forces.]
Legia didn't know the emotion contained in Thomas Andre's flashing eyes. He simply stated his desires. Merely attempting to use the 'Sung Jinwoo' before him to achieve his own goals.
[Release my bindings. I shall aid you.]
– And you expect me to believe that now?
[I shall make you believe.]
Legia chanted an incantation.
[The King of Giants casts Skill 'Pledge of Sincerity (Deal)'.]
[Accepting 'Pledge of Sincerity (Deal)' prevents both caster and acceptor from speaking falsehoods to each other.]
[Will you accept 'Pledge of Sincerity (Deal)'?]
(Y/N)
'King of Giants…'
Through the system, Thomas confirmed that Legia was indeed a true Monarch. At that moment, he made his decision without hesitation.
– Yes, I will make a deal with you.
[Pledge of Sincerity (Deal) has been established.]
[Until the contract is mutually terminated, caster and acceptor cannot speak falsehoods to each other.]
At that moment, Legia spoke as if he had been waiting.
[Release my bindings. I shall aid you.]
Thomas looked at the chained Legia and smiled. And following the Pledge of Sincerity, he stated his own objective. With all his heart.
– I will release the chains right now. So fight me.
[…What did you say?]
Legia's eyes held a tinge of confusion. In contrast, Thomas looked up at the King of Giants, dozens of times larger than himself, brimming with more intense fighting spirit than ever before.
– I wanted to try fighting a Monarch one-on-one again someday. I was miserably defeated back then.
Thomas Andre recalled his fight against the Fang Monarch in the previous world. The pressure he felt that day. In that dizzying moment when the overwhelmingly powerful being tore into him, there was nothing he could do. He was weak. And he realized. He had almost no experience fighting overwhelmingly strong opponents. He was accustomed to fighting the weak, but he'd had no opportunity to fight someone stronger than himself. That's why Sung Jinwoo had been such a special existence to him.
– I'll release the chains immediately. That way it will be an even fight.
At the word 'even', Legia's eyes widened. What nonsense was this lowly human spouting? He couldn't fathom his intentions at all. But there was not a shred of falsehood in Thomas Andre's voice. Instead, an arrogant smile formed on his lips.
– But swear this. Fight with all your might. With the intent to kill me. That is my condition.
[…?!]
At those words, Legia's expression twisted in astonishment. Then, it contorted with fury. Fight with all his might? How disrespectful! For a mere human to propose such conditions to him! Even if he was bound like this, to be subjected to such mockery by a human!
[Can you handle the consequences of those words?]
Fwoooosh—!
An immense killing intent erupted from Legia. A chilling sensation that stimulated survival instincts. But…
Slice.
'Fearlessly', Thomas strode towards Legia and began cutting the chains one by one. Each time a chain snapped, the space vibrated.
Snap!
The moment the last chain broke.
Fwoooosh—!
Thomas saw the giant's fist, filled with fury. A blow delivered with full force.
Boom!
Immediately after, Thomas's vision went dark.
[You have died.]
[Would you like to restart?]
His vision turned black. Instant death, without a doubt. At that moment, Thomas's soul, bound by the Tower of Trials' magic, briefly visited the Sea of the Afterlife. But the Tower of Trials instantly returned it back to his avatar. The experience lasted only a fleeting moment, but it was definitely the sensation of 'touching death.' And such an experience caused Thomas Andre's soul to grow, just a little. This was a system applied equally to all players. The moment of death was fleeting, but through that process, the players' souls absorb a small amount of 'nutrients' from the Sea of the Afterlife before returning. And because the place they happen to visit was near the World Tree conquered by Suho and his companions. The phenomenon called 'Re-Awakening' occurred, where a soul wandering the Sea of the Afterlife 'very coincidentally' encounters the World Tree and becomes stronger.
Phew—
Thus resurrected from death, Thomas Andre's avatar opened his eyes again. It felt like he had merely blinked once. He stood before Legia again, perfectly fine. Death within a game. Normally, in such cases, other NPCs wouldn't remember the event. The story would continue as if it never happened, as if the player hadn't died. But an NPC who was a 'Monarch' was indeed different.
[What is this? I clearly killed him…]
Deep within the dungeon. Legia, the King of Giants imprisoned here, looked puzzled as the human he had just killed reappeared unharmed. Regardless, Thomas clenched both fists and spoke.
– That was too quick. Now, let's try again. You promised, right? I will fight until I die.
And this time, he charged at the creature first.
Boom!
[You have died.]
And he met death again. Several times. Continuously.
[You have died.]
[You have died.]
[You have died.]
[...]
Thus, he repeated death and resurrection countless times.
And then.
– Good. Let's fight again, Legia.