Chapter 514


    TL: xLordFifth


    ED:


    To control this ce would mean gaining a foothold in conquering the New Continent. Its a hub for not only NPCs but also yers carrying secret orders from various kingdoms.


    Thats why its somewhat awkward to form parties here.


    Its hard to trust anyone. Especially since Fernang pinpointed an exact location. If he reaches there, hes certain to gain a discovery achievement. Knowing the value of information on the New Continent, its natural to hesitate to travel with anyone other than truly trusted yers. Leeha suddenly realized his own thoughts and was surprised. Even someone like him, who generally trusts people easily, was thinking this way.


    Other yers must also be highly cautious and investigative, especially in the New Continent, where only advanced yers venture.


    Leeha could easily predict the strife that would soon arise from thisnd. But finding someone trustworthy to call or look for? That wasnt easy either.


    Ah, the time pressure! Its not the 150 days thats the issue I have to fly to Hong Kong tomorrow!


    There was less than 24 hours left in reality!


    Probably, after a day or three in Middle Earth time, he would really be facing the situation of imminent departure. Waiting for other yers to clear the demon sources was too time-consuming. He had to move alone.


    What youre muttering about is unclear, but if its thinking you need, you dont have to do it alone, Leeha-ssi.


    Eh? Haha! Thats right. Im not alone.


    Huh?


    No, to be precise, he wasnt alone. Leeha smiled at ugrun, who looked up at him with a nk expression. Party y? He already had a reliable ally.


    Leeha pulled out a magazine.


    In that case, theres no choice. Whether its a demon source or not


    Click-!


    Lets try facing it just the two of us. His dramatic insertion drew momentary attention from those around him, but that was all. ugrun used a mass teleportation as soon as Leeha gave the coordinates.


    Soon, all traces of their presence were gone.


    [Key to the Realm of Spirits (One-time use, then expires)]


    Effect: Allows one entry into a spirit realm.


    Description: A remnant from a divine being. The spirit kings born in his abode had a profound influence on all life in Middle Earth. However, the deity always rejected unteral influence. To allow the creatures of Middle Earth to also affect spirits, this key was crafted.


    [Doors appear. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Luck- and more than ten others. Each one leads to a spirit realm. Can I only choose one? I decide to try, leaving this book behind in case I dont return.]


    An item revealed through the records of the greatest Wood Elf spirit mage, Alren Srna, who researched all things spirit and was the first to contract with all neen spirit kings.


    Hmm ugrun-ssi, do you know anything about the Key to the Realm of Spirits?


    I am not a spirit.


    An unexpected reply from ugrun, who usually chattered away even without being asked. But when he really needed information, ugrun imed ignorance.


    Then, let me rephrase the question. Do you know how many types of spirits there are? Or anything about the spirit mage Alren Srna?


    Thats the same question.


    Huh?


    Alren Srna, a Wood Elf who once piqued the interest of dragons. He contracted with neen spirit kings and then dered there were no more natural spirits. That


    was during my time as a hatchling well, not the recent hatchling phase.


    If ugrun was a hatchling at that time, it meant Alren Srna, the Wood Elf, must have been an individual from at least 1,000 years ago.


    Definitely an NPC then. After all, a spirit mage who contracted with all spirit kings would undoubtedly be a top ranker.


    Leeha briefly wondered if Srna might be a yer but quickly nodded in agreement with his own thoughts.


    But youre saying there are neen spirit kings?


    ording to Alren Srnas im. Thats something even we dragons cant urately determine. Magic and spirits are entirely different realms, and Bahamut-nim doesnt exactly have the best rtionship with spirits.


    Hmm, that makes sense.


    Leeha pondered theplexity of the spirit realm and the vast number of spirits that might exist within it. It opened a whole new dimension of possibilities in Middle Earth, a world already rich with lore and magic.


    Then there are neen spirit types, huh? Leeha mused. If Alren Srnas im is true, it means theres a vast, unexplored aspect of Middle Earth waiting to be discovered.


    Despite the uncertainty and the new challenges ahead, Leeha felt a spark of excitement at the prospect of delving into this unknown territory. With the Key to the Realm of Spirits in hand, he had the potential to unlock new mysteries and perhaps encounter entities beyond his current understanding.


    Bahamuts rtionship with spirits could be inferred from the reaction of the Sea God Elraim, so Leeha nodded in understanding.


    Spirits.


    Despite possessing items rted to spirits, Leeha realized he knew little about them. But this was to be expected, as information on the inte was limited.


    The most famous were the seven spirits, representing the four ssical elements  fire, water, wind, and earth  plus electricity. There were also rumors of light and darkness spirits, though these were not confirmed.


    Seven spirits, with two stillrgely unknown.


    But were there truly 12 more unconfirmed spirits? Leeha pocketed the translucent key, tempted to use it immediately.


    Just knowing the remaining types of spirits would be invaluable. Even selling this information could be lucrative.


    But the time


    The pressing time constraint was an issue. Using the key meant choosing one door among many, a choice that could not be undone.


    Stop!


    Whoa!


    ugrun abruptly yanked on Leehas clothes, halting him. As a dragon beyond the hatchling stage, ugrun possessed considerable strength.


    Any further is dangerous. This is where it starts the mana source.


    Pointing with his small finger, ugrun indicated something visible even from a distance  a structure towering high into the sky, unmistakably simr to the corrupted World Trees Leeha had encountered before.


    Indeed But there seem to be fewer monsters than expected-


    There are many. You might not see them yet, Leeha-ssi.


    Leeha asked, confused, as he saw no monsters in sight.


    This source was identified by Fernand, right? Impressive for a human.


    What do you mean?


    Are you going to enter?


    Hmm, I want to assess the situation first. ording to Fernand, normally one demon source requires three raid teams for a sessful operation. Five if the teams arent well-coordinated.


    A party typically consists of five members, and a raid team is made up of five parties. Normally, a demon source is tackled by 25 yers. The two demon sources cleared so far followed this pattern.


    This meant a minimum requirement of 75 yers and a rmended number of around 125, all of whom should be elite yers capable of handling the New Continent.


    This wasnt just a standard raid or dungeon from the Old Continent; it was a serious challenge requiring top-tier yers.


    [Detect Evil].


    While Leeha was exining, ugrun cast a spell without much attention to his words.


    Whooooosh!


    Until a moment ago, the area resembled a wastnd overrun with weeds, barren except for a lone tree in the distance, and devoid of any animals.


    But now?


    Grrrrr


    Creeeek- Creeeek


    Weve got- humans here-


    Countless monsters appeared, too many to count. Not just in number, but their types were diverse as if a dungeons worth of monsters were squeezed into a small space.


    ugrun-ssi? You heard me, right?


    One by one, they are around level 260 to 280 in human terms. Lets go.


    What? Where? Wait a minute!


    Just follow me. Ill protect you. I know thats what youd want, Leeha-ssi.


    Before Leeha could react, ugrun began to transform, emitting a teal light.


    Leeha knew immediately what it was  Dragon Form. He hadnt seen ugrun in this form since he reached the Juvenile stage.


    Big- no, small?!


    Rtive to his memories of an adult ugrun, this form was significantly smaller, though stillrger than Leeha.


    A fearsome sight to enemies, yetcking the overwhelming terror of an Ancient Dragon like Bailephus, Kuzgunaksh, or Bahamut.


    Leeha felt a mix of joy and slight disappointment. Riding on ugrun now seemed usible.


    Kyaaaaaaaah!


    - And hed probably bite my head off for suggesting it.


    ugrun roared, a sound filled with the assertion of his existence. This Bronze Dragon, reborn through a mythical item after a death in his Adult stage, now proudly disyed his true dragon form, despite being a Juvenile.


    The roar was a testament to his achievement, and Leeha looked on with admiration. It was a different kind of pride from when he had fed ugrun the growth elerator.


    Karararara!


    Caw- CawKa!


    ugrun-ssi! Flying monsters!


    But were the monsters of the New Continent simrly moved? Unlike those of the Old Continent, none of them halted at the roar of a Juvenile Dragon, which normally would have a substantial status effect.


    The creatures  from four-winged crows to giant birds that were mere skeletons, even boss-level raptor monsters from Candle Castle  numbered well over fifty.


    As Leeha shouted, ugrun twisted his long neck to look at him.


    [Dont worry, just take care of yourself.]


    The dragon was smiling. In an instant, teal granules gathered before his face. Before Leeha could react, scales on ugruns chin shed.


    Electricity surged, channeled through the mana emanating from his Dragon Heart.


    Ugh!


    Leeha covered his ears.


    He had to close his eyes against the blinding light but managed to catch a glimpse of the breath attack.