Ch-375. **Submit.**
—
A spirit contract.
It is a pact in which a spirit of the Spirit Tower grants the contractor a *portion* of its power, while taking *mana* as collateral in return.
The mana required to summon a spirit to the material world is only the baseline.
What truly matters is that after the contractor’s death, the spirit takes the *primordial mana* engraved into the body and soul.
Every living being possesses a certain amount of this *source of life*, and through that *primordial mana*, spirits can swell their sense of self and grow stronger.
Thus, the denser one’s primordial mana, the stronger the spirit they can contract with.
However, beings who possess enough primordial mana to satisfy a *Spirit King* are exceedingly rare.
At best, one might appear once every few centuries.
Even then, no one borrowed the Spirit King’s power in full.
The power lent is proportional to the contractor’s primordial mana.
Even **Issera**, the Lord of Hell, could only borrow a mere 20%.
After being reborn as a demon-blooded, Issera reached 50%—but even that was only half.
Of course, there was a possibility that someday he might approach 100%, but that was merely a possibility.
Primordial mana only grows by breaking through one wall after another.
Naturally, contracting with multiple Spirit Kings at once is nearly impossible.
In fact—
Across all of history, cases of *multiple Spirit King contracts* were almost nonexistent.
And among humans, there were none at all.
‘The only race capable of multiple Spirit King contracts was the druids.’
The progenitors of nature.
The race that preserved the World Tree and carried its seeds.
They were the race with the greatest amount of primordial mana.
Even among druids, however, only a few—spoken of as legends—were capable of *multiple Spirit King contracts*.
They were among the very few beings acknowledged and respected even by the Spirit Kings.
The problem was that druids had vanished from the continent.
When *Destruction* appeared, one of the highest priorities was the extermination of druids.
Just as eliminating the Omen clans that managed the towers was vital, eradicating druids was treated with equal urgency—so their disappearance was inevitable.
After that, not only did multiple contracts vanish, but Spirit Kings themselves were never summoned again.
And yet—
‘Then why…?’
Why does that *human* carry the aura of a druid?
Not long ago, **Agnis** had also become aware that the *World Tree of Honor* had appeared.
Together with the legendary druid **Albino**.
Albino was certainly someone capable of contracting with Spirit Kings.
But his disposition was incompatible with *fire*.
He would harmonize with the Spirit King of Water, or perhaps Earth.
That was true of all druids.
There had never been a case where the *Fire Spirit King* contracted with a druid.
As one who burned everything, Agnis was incompatible with seed-bearing druids.
But—
From that man…
‘It’s hot.’
…A scorching flame can be felt.
Primordial fire.
No—something even more intense than that.
‘The Primordial Flame…!’
Before long, Agnis realized it.
Within him resided the *Primordial Flame*.
Since the medium through which Issera had summoned and forcibly contracted him was precisely the Primordial Flame, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize it.
Then that man must be the human who had shared the Primordial Flame with Issera.
The true owner of the Primordial Flame.
And it also became clear why someone emitting a druid’s aura was compatible with him.
—You are… the master of fire.
The Fire Spirit King **Agnis** lowered his stance.
A natural courtesy toward one who possessed the Primordial Flame.
“D-Did the Spirit King just bow?”
“What does ‘master of fire’ even mean?”
But this was unprecedented.
Even in Pangaenia’s forbidden histories, Spirit Kings were always described as *arrogant and insolent* beings.
The Fire Spirit King, in particular, was infamous for that trait.
He had *never* bowed to anyone.
Yet the surprises didn’t end there.
—O Master of Fire. Will you contract with me, Agnis, the Fire Spirit King?
…The Fire Spirit King was proposing a contract *first*.
Question marks filled everyone’s eyes.
No one could comprehend the situation.
One thing, however, was certain—
They were witnessing a historic moment.
A human contracting with a Spirit King—an unprecedented event.
Who could have imagined seeing that with their own eyes?
All gazes turned toward the man.
And at the end of those expectant stares, he finally spoke.
“I refuse.”
*
*
Silence fell.
No one had anticipated that answer.
To *refuse* a Spirit King’s contract—how could anyone dare?
He should have been kneeling in tears, thanking the heavens!
—…?
Agnis was momentarily dumbfounded.
The very idea that someone could refuse a Spirit King’s contract was something he had never experienced.
And then, the words that followed were even more outrageous.
“Submit.”
—Su…bmit…?
What nonsense was he spouting now?
…Submit.
It meant to prostrate oneself and obey.
Not an equal contract—but one that clearly defined *master* and *servant*.
And of course, the master would be that man, and the servant would be Agnis himself.
The mere act of hearing such words was humiliating.
Who was he?
A Spirit King revered by all.
Mortals endlessly yearned for contracts with him.
“What did he just say?”
“He’s refusing the contract?”
“H-He can’t do that…!”
The listeners were horrified.
This wasn’t just refusal.
Demanding *submission* crossed the line—violently so.
They were in a position where humanity needed saving.
A Spirit King’s contract would be invaluable.
Instead, this might provoke his wrath.
The Fire Spirit King was notorious for his pride!
‘Impossible.’
There had never been a time in history when a Spirit King submitted.
Not once since the Spirit Tower was erected.
Agnis turned his head.
And looked at **Alkar**, who had subdued him.
‘Why is a demon-blooded here in the first place?’
Agnis was already contracted with Issera.
So recognizing Alkar as demon-blooded wasn’t difficult.
The real question was why a demon-blooded was with humans.
‘Is he guarding the one who shared the Primordial Flame with Issera?’
Perhaps he was there to protect that man.
Indeed, Alkar’s might was beyond imagination.
Far beyond the level of ordinary demon-blooded.
If such a monster stood guard, forcing a contract would be impossible.
But without a contract, things would spiral into the worst-case scenario.
Left like this, Agnis would lose all power and become a *Chaos Spirit*.
Becoming a Chaos Spirit was the most dreadful fate imaginable for him.
Everything about this was impossible—
And yet…
—…I will submit.
Those who thirst must dig the well.
In the end, Agnis bowed his head.
He truly had no time left.
Even if it was only himself, he had to burn away all contamination and avert the worst.
And to do that, contracting with the owner of the Primordial Flame was the only answer.
That was the moment—
《The Fire Spirit King ‘Agnis’ has submitted.》
《Due to the formation of a ‘one-sided contract,’ no mana is consumed to summon ‘Agnis.’》
《Summoning is sustained solely by ‘Agnis’s’ mana.》
《‘Agnis’ cannot refuse the contractor’s summoning request.》
《Even after the contractor’s death, ‘Agnis’ cannot touch the contractor’s ‘primordial mana.’》
《However, the power manifested by summoned ‘Agnis’ is proportional to the contractor’s ‘primordial mana.’》
An unfair contract—no, an *absurdly* unfair one.
Had it not been for the current circumstances, it was a contract Agnis would never have accepted.
Normally, even after a contract, whether a spirit answered a summons was entirely its own will.
There had even been a time when he outright refused Issera’s summons.
Yet here was a contract where the contractor suffered no loss at all—only benefit.
Not even allowed to claim the primordial mana that a spirit was entitled to after the contractor’s death!
‘T-This power…?’
But Agnis couldn’t complain.
Because the moment the contract was completed—
An overwhelming change overtook the Agnis who had been reduced to fist-size.
—Hngh…?!
*
*
The **Blood Moon Priestess** turned her head.
“…The seal was broken?”
Something was wrong.
The only ones climbing Fire Mountain were the humans she was pursuing.
They should have been devoured by the *Unborn One*.
And yet—the seal had been released.
The Unborn One wouldn’t break a seal.
Which meant the humans had done it.
‘Could it be…?’
Absurd as it sounded—had they somehow avoided the Unborn One?
Krrrrng!
Soon, *Fire Mountain* shook violently.
The flames that had engulfed the entire mountain began to subside.
…The Fire Spirit King Agnis had been subdued.
“Fall back!”
The Blood Moon Priestess and her thousand yaksha hastily retreated the way they had come.
And at the entrance of Fire Mountain, they finally encountered the humans.
Afterward, the Blood Moon Priestess would regret it.
“Aaagh…!”
“F-Fire!”
“Why is the Fire Spirit King on the humans’ side—?!”
Because Spirit King Agnis was fighting *alongside* the humans.
And he was far stronger than when he had been rampaging.
*
*
At last, the descent was complete.
Everything they had aimed for on Fire Mountain had been achieved.
They had subdued the Fire Spirit King, formed a contract, and obtained the *Bell of Fire*.
It would have been natural to erupt in cheers—
But no one, including Arin, could.
At the very front, leading them—
The man standing side by side with the now vastly enlarged Fire Spirit King Agnis.
The two monsters who had just single-handedly annihilated the red-robed warriors.
Among them, one man drew overwhelming curiosity.
“…Are you really Phantom?”
Unable to hold back any longer, **Gracia** finally asked.
He, too, had searched for Phantom for many years.
He wanted to know Phantom’s true identity.
Yet Phantom had never once revealed himself.
And now, at last, he stood before someone suspected to be Phantom.
At Gracia’s question, Alkar—now returned to human form—shrugged.
“Think whatever you want.”
Belief or disbelief was their choice.
At present, he had been entrusted with the crucial role of leading the people in place of **Park Hyun-myung**, the god of the demon-blooded.
This level of *acting* was trivial for Alkar.
But no one thought it was an act.
The power he had displayed—
And the attitude of Spirit King Agnis—
…If he wasn’t Phantom, it simply made no sense.
“Were you the one who played Wilhelm?”
“Who knows.”
“Is that form Randolph? Or something else?”
“……”
Alkar didn’t answer any further.
Meanwhile, just as many gazes were fixed not on Alkar, but on **Park Hyun-myung**.
‘That bastard contracted with the Fire Spirit King…!’
A hardened **Choi Kang-nam** screamed inwardly.
Something utterly impossible had happened.
A *second-generation Awakened* contracting with a Spirit King!
Neither Arin, nor Gracia, nor any powerhouse gathered here had achieved such a feat.
Once this became known, he would become a superstar overnight.
Especially since Spirit King Agnis’s power was already famous across the world.
No one would dare provoke him.
…Wasn’t that luck a bit *too* good?
‘If he can do it, then so can I.’
Only three Spirit Kings remained now.
If he could contract with even one of them, that would be enough.
Choi Kang-nam brimmed with hope.
Then he quietly sidled up to Alkar.
‘It’s definitely Phantom. If I stick close, I’ll learn strategies he hasn’t even released yet…!’
No matter how he looked at it, he was Phantom.
Staying glued to his side meant safety.
And maybe he could even pick up some scraps.
The party continued moving without rest.
Before long, they reached their next destination—the **Mountain of Earth**.
—Clack.
—Clack.
“Golems…?”
“There are way too many of them.”
The problem was the golems guarding the mountain’s entrance.
They were likely another *Abyss Lord* and his followers.
Countless golems prowled endlessly around the Mountain of Earth.
And at their center, they saw it.
“T-That giant golem… what is that?”
“Why is it so huge?”
An overwhelmingly massive golem.
As it uncurled its body, it grew so large it seemed to touch the sky.
They had never seen a golem of such size.
…Except for one person.
The moment I saw the colossal golem, I recognized it.
‘Still searching for your master, are you—Lord of the Grave.’
