## Chapter 1165 – Confrontation

A dream.

I could feel it instinctively.

The World Tree had appeared in my dream.

As proof, the scenery around me was extraordinary. A peaceful landscape straight out of a fairy tale. I stood in that beautiful forest I had seen inside the World Tree’s fissure.

“I see.”

This couldn’t be a vivid dream.

I felt the same energy as before, overflowing.
This was undoubtedly the World Tree’s power.

And…

“…”

What stood before me was the World Tree, taking the form of Shahran. A naked Shahran floated slightly in the air, looking down at me with narrowly opened eyes.

Damn it, everything’s fine, but couldn’t you at least cover your important bits?

Is it because he’s a god, so his sense of that kind of thing is vague?

It’s a bit awkward to say it directly.

Anyway, the fact that the World Tree appeared in my dream, could it be that the crystal ball was the medium that allowed him to summon me into the dream like this? Or did absorbing the World Tree’s sap allow him to interfere with me?

Either way, it feels roughly the same.

“Hello, World Tree.”

Whatever it is, I should greet him first.

“It’s been a while.”

I smiled and bowed deeply, giving a polite belly-button greeting.

“Why.”
“Pardon?”

The World Tree spoke in a voice that seemed slightly different from before.

“You shared the sap.”
“Ah.”

Ah.

Damn it.

I had a feeling he would bring that up.

“Well, you see.”

Of course, I hadn’t considered this situation.

Well, he might have extracted the sap according to my personal specifications. In other words, I was thinking about that possibility, but I still shared it. It seemed like the World Tree was trying to question that now.

“I shared it because I thought good things should be shared.”

I don’t think that’s a problem.

Sharing it is more important to me. Am I supposed to eat something like that all by myself? It’s not like I’m going to live alone forever. At least, my women will be with me for life.

So, I have to share.

But Kadia is a bit…

Because she worships the Verdant God, I couldn’t give her the sap, unfortunately. Receiving power from different gods is a bit risky, and she’s also a divine power user.

“Is there perhaps a problem?”

But I received it as a reward anyway. I didn’t hear that I had to eat it all myself. If that was important, he would have told me first. I don’t know if I’m thinking too humanly, but it probably isn’t a big deal.

“…”

The World Tree was silent for a moment.

“…Because of that, my power. Has scattered.”

Scattered?

It probably isn’t a big deal.

Anyway, the World Tree’s voice was completely different from before. Unlike before, when it was stuttering and choppy, he was speaking properly.

This must also be because of absorbing the sap. If I had drunk all the sap, would I have been able to communicate completely normally?

That would be great.

“Is it that serious?”
“Not to that. Extent.”

I’m glad to hear that.

“However. If it had scattered a little more, it would have been troublesome.”
“I’m very relieved to hear that.”

But my women hadn’t drunk it all yet.

Only I had drunk all six bottles. The others said they were planning to drink it slowly over a few days, weeks, or even months. If they ran out, they could just ask for more.

Still, I’m relieved that there’s no problem.

“If you had absorbed it all. More seamless communication would have been possible.”
“I think it’s seamless enough now.”
“…”

The World Tree closed his mouth.

“No. I’m not saying anything strange. It’s very satisfactory communication. I can hear your voice properly.”
“You could have strengthened your power even more.”

Strengthening power, huh.

Hearing those words, I suddenly…

Couldn’t help but feel a pleasant sensation.

“Hahahahahahaha!!!”

Strengthening!

Did you say strengthening!

Do you think my growth will be stunted just because I shared that sap? Or that I won’t be strengthened as much? That’s an absurdly foolish thing to say! Whether I eat 100% of the elixir or share it and only eat one-seventh, it doesn’t matter!

I am Chunma!

Elixirs are something I can eat or not eat!

“Cough… Anyway, World Tree. What exactly was the effect of that crystal ball?”
“One who possesses my power. Can summon me with it.”
“Ooh…”

I had roughly expected it, but this was extremely surprising.

So, it really is a divine object bestowed directly by a god.

It was an object that could actually summon a god. This is something that other gods could never dream of. At least, an object that can truly communicate with a god is probably the only one right now.

Humans and elves would all be astonished.

It would be priceless.

“Of course. It is merely a confrontation due to a mental connection. Neither divine possession nor the granting of power is possible. All the crystal can do is provide simple assistance.”
“Even that will be a great help to us. Thank you.”

Anyway, the World Tree quietly…

ㅡGooooo.

Emitted some kind of power and looked at me.

A greenish aura emanated from his body. I stood still and watched him. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like he’s planning to do something from now on.

“Not absorbing all of the sap. Was outside of my expectations. But it will not greatly hinder the achievement of the objective.”

Did he measure my power?

“Hehehe, you saw right through me. I knew that too, so I didn’t drink all the sap.”
“…”
“Yes.”

This much power should be enough.

In any case, the World Tree continued.

“Find the fragments of the fallen gods.”

Find the fragments, huh.

“And absorb them, strengthen that power.”
“But World Tree.”

But I have some questions.

“I’m curious, if I collect all the fragments of the gods scattered on the ground and absorb them. What will happen to me?”

Let’s ask one more time here.

“…”

The World Tree was silent at my words.

“What can be told. Is limited. If you gather the fragments, you will naturally find out.”

So, he’s not going to tell me now? I don’t know if there’s a limit, or if he’s deliberately not telling me, but anyway, the World Tree didn’t give me a clear answer.

“Yes. As you wish.”

Still, let’s roughly judge. From what I can see, it doesn’t seem like he’s telling me to collect them purely for the purpose of defeating Lich. But it’s something I need to do anyway, so I’ll follow without complaint. Well, it’s not like gods have pure intentions and purposes.

Above all, it’s just my opinion.

“First of all, you said there’s a fragment in the Dwarf Kingdom, right?”
“That’s right. It was a long time ago, so I don’t know the details. But it is certainly still there.”

So, the first stop is there.

“Are you planning to go there?”
“Yes. I’m planning to go there for now.”

Strike while the iron is hot. I’ve already been to the Elven Forest, so it would be a shame to leave out the Dwarf Kingdom. I’m planning to go there first.

“But how exactly can you help?”
“If you go there. You will be able to feel the power, however faint. Explore the land of the dwarves with the crystal. Then I will be able to find out.”

It’s a bit ambiguous, but…

That’s what the World Tree said.

The power of a god isn’t a joke, so I’m sure he’ll be able to figure it out somehow.

“I understand. Then I’ll use the crystal again around that time.”

I can use it again when I get there.
Until then, goodbye.

I don’t think there’s anything else to do.

“I have high expectations for you.”
“Me too.”

Kim Kat, the man who is expected by the World Tree.

“Ah, but World Tree.”

Something suddenly came to mind.

“The power that was inside me. Which god’s power was it?”
“…”

I’m curious about the original owner of this power that I absorbed after killing Valkyrie. It’s a forgotten ancient god now, but the World Tree might know.

“The energy… Is distorted, so I cannot read it.”
“Distorted, you say?”
“That’s right. Clearly, the original form and the current form are different.”

Did the energy change as it became my power? If so, I’ll probably never find out. Well, it doesn’t matter much. It’s not an important matter, and it’s already in the past anyway.

“Then I’ll see you next time.”

The moment I said that.

My vision went dark.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, it was morning.

“…Ah.”

That bastard, the World Tree.

I don’t know if he’s plotting something behind the scenes, but this made it clear. I’ve properly absorbed the power and learned how to use the crystal ball, so now I just need to find the fragments.

The Dwarf Kingdom, huh.

First of all, that place is located at the westernmost end.

As you can see on the map, there’s an unexplored area to the east of the Karga Kingdom. The city near there is Krasheim.

And if you go west, there’s the Elven Forest. To the southwest, below the Elven Forest, is the border with the Mercudia Kingdom.

If you go west from the Mercudia Kingdom, there are several minor kingdoms. If you go all the way to the end, you’ll find the Dwarf Kingdom. Just hearing about it makes it sound incredibly far. You have to go through several kingdoms to get there.

I don’t know how long it will take.

But I have to go.

“Damn it.”

But I said this, but I still don’t know much about the Dwarf Kingdom. Well, to get this kind of information, I have no choice but to look for books.

I need to visit the library for the first time in a while.

There should be something there.

ㅡSwish.

I immediately pushed Claudia and Hilde, who were in my arms, to the side and got out of bed. I went straight downstairs, washed up, ate something simple, and went out to the backyard.

“You bastards.”

ㅡ…

Ilryong and Iryong were sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world. But these guys have gotten quite a bit bigger and their muscles have strengthened a lot compared to when I first bought them. It’s all because Ari raised them.

I confirmed that and reached out, drawing out the power within me.

ㅡWhirr.

Pure white flames.

The power that I was able to manifest externally after drinking the World Tree’s sap.

An energy completely different from the blue mana surged on my palm. This was truly the divine power I possessed. Compared to the mana overflowing in my body, this was still insignificant.

But I could feel the incredibly powerful force contained within it.

“Amazing.

This is… More powerful than mana.

Divine power, my own power, different from divine energy.

It is not yet possible to combine this with mana. Using them together is possible. Even when used together, there are no penalties or anything like that.

It’s like water and oil. If you put water and oil in a cup and spray it on someone, that unfortunate bastard will be covered in both water and oil at the same time. It’s exactly that kind of feeling. Either way, nothing is reduced.

However, if I could mix them… My power would probably increase dramatically.

Right now, I’m in a hybrid state, using two resources: mana and divine power. And hybrids are just a euphemism for something shitty that looks good. At first glance, it looks good, but it’s the epitome of inefficiency and waste. It’s often the case when you think about it in terms of games. A guy who uses both physical and magical attacks can’t compete with a guy who focuses on one. I need to somehow combine them into one.

ㅡCombining mana and divine power.

Let’s try that slowly for now.
I don’t know if it will work.

ㅡSqueeze.

I clenched my fist without extinguishing the flame. Then, pure white flames flowed out between my fingers, making it feel like I was wearing pure white flame gloves.

And on the surface of that.

ㅡWhirr.

I covered it with mana flames.

I’m not lying, I covered my fist with both divine power and mana at the same time. The destructive power of this… I haven’t actually used it yet, but it goes without saying.

“Siljang Kwonbeop.”

ㅡPapat!

I immediately deployed Siljang Kwonbeop and struck the air.

ㅡBbeogeogeoeoeong!!!

A roar echoed as my fist shot out.

I pulled back the fist I shot out and fired again. ㅡKwaaang! Like a firing pin hitting the primer of a bullet, a Siljang punch with immense power struck the air at a speed of dozens of times per second.

ㅡTukwaaaaaaang!!
ㅡTukwang!!
ㅡKwakwakwakwang!!!

“Cataclysmic Bung-Tsu Bung-Tsu.”

I swung the fist I shot out, followed up with elbow attacks, and continued to advance, unleashing a series of punches. The passage of time is forgotten.

ㅡSwish.

I stopped acting when I had exhausted all the divine power within me.

No more pure white flames were burning from my fist.
All that remained was the flame of mana.

“…Haa.”

I was out of breath before I knew it.

This must be really strong.

I rarely get tired, but I was out of breath after doing that for a bit. My heart was beating fast, and I had used up all my divine power. But I still had plenty of mana left. And yet, it’s this much?

“Definitely. It’s fucking strong, this.”

I’ve used up all my divine power, so I’ll stop here for today.

Tomorrow, let’s try using Bihal and incorporating it into sword energy.

Then let’s wash up and go to the library.