Chapter 1112
Episode 258: The Predator of All Dimensions (2)
No one could move. Except for a few among the Changsung, everyone else was frozen in place, as if a beast cornered by a predator at a dead end.
Keliak strolled through the sky as if on a leisurely walk. With every step he took, the hearts of those below pounded violently.
Fssssss, shiiiiii…!
Just like the day he first appeared on Imperial soil, the power of the ships crushed beneath his might was fading. The neural cores driving the Golden Fleet had stopped, and the magic fueling the White Fleet was dissipating.
But unlike before, no one was clutching their throats as if suffocating. That was because all the Changsung of the Alliance were gathered here together. Their combined presence was at least partially countering Keliak’s overwhelming influence.
He didn’t even glance at the subordinates kneeling and paying respects, their battle halted. Instead, his eyes first swept over the fallen Changsung of the Demon God Corps—the traces they left on the battlefield.
To Keliak, every moment of their final stand was as vivid as if he had witnessed it firsthand.
“I felt it last time as well, but this 677th dimension is truly a strange land. While over fifty of our Changsung have fallen, you’ve lost only a handful of superhumans and some insignificant ones at best. Even with Ban and Siron Runkandel present, isn’t this outcome a bit excessive?”
The destroyed fleets, the dead Demon God Corps, the sealed Holy Water Corps—it was impossible to count them all.
Keliak marveled at the fact that mere coincidence, obsession, madness, faith, and pride alone could produce such results.
‘…Or perhaps it’s not just that. Maybe there’s a kind of backlash born from the countless worlds rejecting me.’
At that thought, Keliak let out a dry chuckle.
‘So this is Keliak Jiple… the leader of the Demon God Corps.’
Siron quietly gauged the power of the Demon God Corps’ leader he had only heard about in stories. A monster who claimed he couldn’t be defeated alone, not even by the warrior Ban.
His presence was boundless.
As Siron focused his mind to understand him, he quickly realized measuring Keliak’s power was pointless.
It was as if the universe itself had taken human form and stood before him.
Yet strangely, Siron felt no awe. There was none of that radiant brilliance unique to humans who had endured suffering, overcome adversity, and conquered death.
Despite facing an opponent so overwhelming that a single mistake could mean death, and whose mere presence was intimidating, Siron felt no fear.
Nor did he feel the urge to challenge him.
Siron had longed for an opponent who could push him to his limits. Before overcoming his demonic transformation, some kings of the Black Sea had been worthy adversaries, but in the mortal realm, he had never faced such a rival—except for Ban, his ally.
Not because he thought he couldn’t win. To Siron, Keliak was simply someone who could not offer the thrill of combat or struggle.
“It must feel like a farmer facing a sick, barren field that can never be cultivated again,” Siron said, locking eyes with Keliak.
“Ha. You mean I’m an unpleasant opponent you don’t even want to fight? That’s the biggest insult I’ve ever heard. So, you are Siron Runkandel of the 677th dimension…”
On the other hand, Keliak was struck with a fresh shock when looking at Siron.
The reason was simple: Siron was the strongest being Keliak had ever seen. Keliak had never witnessed Ban’s prime in any dimension, but to him, Siron was clearly the strongest warrior across all dimensions.
He was on a level incomparable even to the hundreds of Changsung under the Demon God Corps, or the other versions of Siron from different dimensions Keliak had tried to subjugate.
“You are special, Siron.”
“You seem to be the same. You’re nothing like the Keliak Jiple I knew.”
“After this dimension, I have devoured every Keliak Jiple in all worlds. Few were kindred spirits. I find it strange that you and I share some similarities. Among the countless identical people across worlds, you are the overwhelmingly strongest.”
“Keliak Jiple, do you seek my respect?”
At those words, Keliak’s eyes sharpened. The Changsung and officers of the Demon God Corps watching the exchange gritted their teeth at Siron’s disrespect.
Noticing this, Keliak stretched out his hand into the air. One of his most furious subordinates was suddenly pulled forward, frozen in midair.
“Ugh! L-Lord Keliak!”
Kidad Hol, a Changsung from the 173rd dimension, had long served the Demon God Corps as a victor of that realm.
“What has made you so angry, Kidad Hol? Despite being a Changsung, you’ve been crushed under Siron’s aura and failed to inflict any real damage on the enemy. Now that I’m here, you strut around like a thug with a powerful backer.”
“I-I’m not—ugh, ugh!”
“You’re no more than a stone lying on the roadside. Even if you combine all the Changsung of the Demon God Corps who came to attack the Alliance, you can’t match the value of Siron alone.”
“Forgive me—ugh, aahh!”
With a slow clench of his fist, Keliak crushed Kidad’s body like paper. His skin crumbled like rotted wood, bones disintegrated, and blood dried up in an instant.
Soon, Kidad became a lump of pure white magic, falling onto Keliak’s palm. Keliak casually flicked it into his mouth as if swallowing candy.
“Still not a bad meal, all things considered. How amusing.”
“Disgusting.”
“Surprising, Siron. I thought you’d know that life is ultimately about eating and being eaten.”
“Beasts prey on each other, humans trample and kill one another—that’s natural. But you don’t fit into either category. Nor do you feel like a force of nature’s wrath. You simply shouldn’t exist in this world.”
To Siron, Keliak was the last kind of being: one that must be protected from, cut down, and never have existed in the first place.
It was the first time he’d felt this way. Even the kings of the Black Sea, when categorized, were at least worthy of being cut down.
“Is that so?”
Keliak shrugged and looked down at Siron.
“Then you have no intention of becoming mine this time either?”
“Have any of the Siron Runkandels from other worlds ever submitted to you?”
“No. Unfortunately.”
“It will be the same this time. The fate of eliminating the kings of the Black Sea is over. Now I have a new destiny. I will cut you down, Keliak Jiple of the Demon God Corps.”
Keliak furrowed his brow bitterly.
Of course, Siron Runkandel was not essential to him. Compared to Siron, Keliak was far superior, commanding countless Changsung and many gods.
Still, this time, Keliak wanted to test his own power.
—I want to test myself through you. To see if I possess the power to change what never changes. Even if I can’t reach Orgal’s level yet, perhaps I can alter the fate of a trivial figure like you. If not, I must not kill Malugia.
Those were the words Keliak had spoken to Octavia after saving her.
The desire to twist “what never changes in any dimension” was, in a way, the greatest motivation driving Keliak Jiple of the 33rd dimension.
“I understand… It’s painful, but also somewhat enjoyable. That there’s still something in this world that can provoke me. Once you disappear, there won’t be much left. But it can’t be helped. Now, die. The strongest knight in all the world.”
Fshhhhh…!
The moment Keliak finished speaking, Siron was engulfed by a piercing ringing in his head, and darkness rapidly closed in on his vision.
It was a split second.
But enough to die.
For the first time in a long while, Siron reflexively raised his sword. He had no time to anticipate the enemy’s strike, its trajectory, or power—he focused solely on defense.
Zheeeeng!
If not for Siron’s aura, the blow would have cleaved even Barisadara in two instantly. His vision briefly vanished, yet he managed to parry Keliak’s attack with his blade despite being completely off-guard.
“Ugh…!”
But his body was lifted into the air, forced to brace for the next strike, still blinded.
“Father!”
“Siron!”
Luna, Ban, and Jin all rushed to shield him. But Keliak’s beam was faster. Siron once again instinctively raised his sword like a shield. Zheeeeng! Another thunderous clash echoed as Siron crashed to the ground, barely regaining his footing.
“Just like in the Empire last time, father and son are both formidable. This attack was quite sincere, yet it was blocked. Maybe I should have fully recovered before coming. That thought crossed my mind.”
Keliak’s face no longer held a trace of a smile.
Not because he was shaken by Siron’s defense.
He had genuinely decided to kill everyone here.
And he was certain he could.