Absolute Dweller-Chapter 102

The essence of the World Tree, hidden within the dimensional rift, looked both like a colossal solitary tree and an expansive forest composed of tens of thousands of trees.

A pulsating stream of life surged, forming a massive flow.

"This must be the true form of the World Tree."

The breathtaking scenery naturally elicited awe.

"Beautiful."

Lost in thought, I stared blankly at the sight for a while before shifting my focus to the hospital room where my family lay unconscious.

Through the black eye, the hospital room was suffused with the energy of the World Tree.

And then—

"So this is why they described it as parasitic."

The World Tree's life force continuously flowed into the transparent energy consuming my family’s consciousness.

The scene resembled parasites clinging to roots and draining nutrients.

However, that didn’t mean this transparent energy was inherently insignificant.

"That energy is fundamentally the same as my black energy or the World Tree’s life force."

If I were to borrow White Dragon’s phrasing, it possessed "divinity."

"I see why it can exist within my domain without permission."

Possessing divinity and being partly tethered to the dimensional rift housing the World Tree’s essence allowed it to exist without direct confrontation.

"But where does the World Tree's energy it consumes go?"

If it were functioning normally, the transparent energy should have grown larger or become denser with the life force it absorbed. Yet, no visible change occurred.

It seemed to vanish as quickly as it was absorbed.

"Strange."

Initially, I thought it was merely inefficient at absorbing life force, but that wasn’t the case.

Upon closer examination, I began to discern its structure.

"So that’s it."

The ravenous energy consumed the life force, which then moved elsewhere through the transparent energy.

These parasites clinging to the World Tree’s essence were acting as conduits, channeling the absorbed life force elsewhere.

"In that case..."

What would happen if I fed it my black energy?

Without delay, I teleported to the hospital room.

"You're here, Mr. Jaehyun."

Director Lee Seong-min, who had been vigilantly watching over the room, immediately bowed.

"Anything unusual?"

"Nothing at all."

Fortunately, nothing had happened while I focused my attention on the World Tree.

Pointing to the black eye floating in the air, I asked him, "Director, can you see that?"

Lee Seong-min glanced around the room and replied, "The refrigerator, sir?"

"Never mind."

It seemed Lee Seong-min couldn’t see the black eye.

"That’s a relief."

If the black eye drew attention whenever it was used, it would be troublesome.

I approached my grandmother’s bedside.

Through the black eye, I saw her head completely overtaken by the transparent energy.

I carefully extended my hand, generating black energy.

"What if something goes wrong?"

There was a chance it wouldn’t accept my energy or that the transparent energy could spiral out of control.

However—

"I can’t just stand by and do nothing."

Despite the risk, I had to attempt something to resolve this situation.

"Grandmother, I’ll save you."

Buzz—

The black energy emanating from my hand slowly moved toward my grandmother’s head.

The transparent energy leeching off the World Tree’s life force naturally swallowed my black energy as well.

Whoosh!

I could feel the black energy being pulled into the transparent energy's core and transmitted elsewhere.

"Not enough."

But the quantity was insufficient to determine its destination.

"A little more."

I began to pour more black energy into it.

Buzz—

"Just a bit more."

Gradually increasing the amount, I eventually reached a point where over 80% of the energy absorbed by the transparent force was mine.

At that moment—

"There it is."

I could distinctly perceive where the energy was flowing.

As soon as the black energy coalesced in one location—

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"East Gate, open."

The East Gate—

A portal enabling movement anywhere within my domain.

Since my domain stemmed from the power of black energy, I could momentarily establish a connection to the unknown location where the transparent energy was transmitting the World Tree's life force.

Rumble—

Beyond the East Gate, a lush forest came into view.

Without hesitation, I leaped through it.

Meanwhile, Lee Seong-min, noticing Kim Jaehyun’s sudden disappearance, silently resumed his vigil.

His role was to monitor the family and respond immediately to emergencies.

Since the safety of Kim Jaehyun’s family was at stake, the best team of experts had been assembled to care for them.

"Not that it made much of a difference."

Despite the top medical professionals’ efforts, no progress had been made.

MRI and CT scans showed no abnormalities.

This phenomenon wasn’t a medical issue but something beyond ordinary comprehension.

"All we can do is provide basic care."

Even that felt futile.

For ordinary humans, measures like repositioning their bodies to prevent bedsores might have been necessary. But aside from the grandmother, everyone in this room was a superhuman.

Their durability far exceeded that of ordinary people.

"Honestly, even without us..."

There likely wouldn’t have been any issues.

Just then—

Flash—!

A brilliant light erupted from Kim Jaehyun’s grandmother, spreading in all directions.

Thud—

Lee Seong-min lost consciousness before he even realized he was falling.

"Hmm?"

When his consciousness returned—

"What... What’s this?"

He couldn’t move his body.

"Where am I?"

Though his eyes wouldn’t open, every sensation in his body was alive.

"Liquid? Water?"

He quickly realized he was submerged in some kind of fluid.

"This isn’t just water. It’s sticky."

As a doctor, he tried to analyze the situation calmly—but only briefly.

A faint hum reverberated.

“W-what? My strength is draining?”

Lee Seong-min, feeling the unknown sticky liquid gnawing away at his energy, was thrown into a panic.

“P-please help me, Jaehyun!”

All he could do was pray.

And he wasn’t alone in this ordeal.

The light that had spread from the hospital room expanded across a wide area, trapping thousands of nearby people in the same predicament as Lee Seong-min.

Among them, Lee Seong-min was relatively better off.

Thanks to the contract of subordination granted by Jaehyun’s mother, Lee Ji-sook, he had gained abilities that significantly increased his level upon awakening. This gave him the strength to endure.

But for ordinary citizens, it was a different story.

Those who hadn’t reached level 10, especially young children with limited energy reserves, were in grave danger.

For them, surviving even two days would be nearly impossible.

A silent prelude to despair was playing.

The moment I successfully passed through the East Gate, the scattered black energy around me coalesced toward my body.

And then—

Buzz—

A familiar barrier formed around me.

“This isn’t quite like my domain.”

The most noticeable difference was the barrier’s position.

Currently, my domain extended about 10 meters in radius around me. However, the barrier itself adhered tightly to my body, as if it were armor.

“It feels similar to when I used Descent.”

Back then, the barrier had also protected my immediate surroundings, while the domain spread far and wide.

And now—

“Sure enough, the domain moves with me.”

I could sense it instinctively.

“This state won’t last long.”

I had to achieve my goal as quickly as possible.

Without delay, I began to investigate.

“Absolute Dweller’s Eye.”

Here, I didn’t need to infuse black energy to activate the black eye.

Hum—

The surroundings were filled entirely with the transparent energy.

“This is a complete reversal.”

Even though it was parasitic, I couldn’t underestimate this entity.

It undoubtedly possessed divinity.

This vast forest was entirely its domain, and I had willingly walked into enemy territory.

My entire domain barely spanned 10 meters in radius.

“I should’ve poured more power into it before coming in.”

Regret wouldn’t change the past.

“No need to rush. This time, I’ll scout, then retreat once the East Gate’s cooldown ends.”

The next time I entered, I’d fully unleash my black energy to flood this place before diving in.

“A forest, huh?”

I had noticed the peculiar nature of this environment from the moment I entered.

And soon, I understood why it felt off.

“There’s no sound.”

In a forest, one should hear the buzzing of insects, the chirping of birds, or even the rustling of leaves in the wind. Yet, there was nothing.

An ominous silence enveloped the entire forest.

“It’s as if the whole forest is dead.”

The foliage and trees were unsettling in their appearance.

“What’s that?”

Each tree bore strange, tumor-like growths.

Since I could use the Absolute Dweller’s Eye within my domain, I activated it to examine the contents of one such growth.

Most were hollow, but during the fifth inspection, I found one containing something.

“…This.”

Inside the growth was a shriveled corpse submerged in sticky liquid.

“It’s not human.”

The mummified corpse resembled a human but had sharp, elongated ears, marking it as another species.

And then—

Jerk—

The corpse, which I assumed was lifeless, twitched.

It was still alive.

The moment I realized this, I tried to tear the growth open using an invisible hand, but—

Slither—

The body of the other species dissolved like a mirage, vanishing.

Pop!

All that remained in the now-empty growth was the sticky digestive fluid.

“…No way.”

I looked up to see countless growths of varying sizes clinging to the trees.

“Teleport.”

I teleported to the treetop.

“Invisible Hand.”

Using the Invisible Hand to stabilize myself by gripping the trunk, I surveyed the surroundings.

The endless expanse of trees stretched out like an ocean, sending shivers down my spine.

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped my lips in disbelief.

Somewhere within this impossibly vast forest, my family’s consciousnesses were trapped—likely encased in those bizarre growths, just like the other species.

“Searching every inch of this place is impossible.”

Only one option remained.

I fixed my gaze on the colossal tree at the center.

“Strike the head.”

There was no other way. It was time to end this.

“Summon Retainers.”

Buzz—

I summoned all my combat forces.