Heaven Breaker: SSS Rank Tiger Evolution-Chapter 58: New Ruler

[ This domain is without a ruler. Do you wish to claim it? ]

The system asked again as I rested beneath the starry sky, the little rats lying on my chest.

In response, I closed my eyes. A strange feeling grew within my heart.

’This land feels like it’s calling to me.’ I felt the land deeply, as if it were trying to connect with me.

’I wonder why the land has its own aura, like a living being.’

I sighed before confirming.

’I’ll consider it just another piece of loot. System, claim the domain—whatever that is.’

WOOOSH

Suddenly, my aura surged into the land, and my eyes widened.

’Why does this... feel so... so... good...’

My pupils dilated as I seemed to connect with the world around me.

[ The domain has been claimed. ]

My mind drifted, immersed in a completely euphoric sensation.

’This is incredible...’

I knew it instinctively.

I was one with the world, and the world was one with me.

My will was the will of the world.

I then closed my eyes, focusing on the connection.

’Let’s see it from another angle.’ I thought, and soon, like a god, I gazed down through the clouds at the land below.

I saw my physical body beneath me, resting with closed eyes, rats piled atop it—and yet, here I was, among the clouds.

"Let me experiment a bit."

My spirit wandered across that ruined land, seeing every living being that dwelled there.

Many had died during the battle, but many still stood despite everything.

Shattered Sky had no weak inhabitants, and that was clear now.

After some searching, I soon found what remained of the rat king. He slipped into a crater and drowned in the magma.

"And what is this?" I observed from above as a small radiant mist permeated the sky and the land.

I looked closer.

Strangely, there was a disturbance in that mist that caught my attention.

WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH

A giant praying mantis slashed furiously through a pack of wolves. Each time it did, a change occurred.

The dead wolf released more of that mist, which was then absorbed by the mantis along with what looked like red, fish-like eggs.

"Aura and experience." I watched the battle in awe.

Even so, part of the experience was dissolving into the atmosphere instead of being delivered to the mantis.

"Let’s change that." I said, extending my hand and touching the mist.

KRIIIIK

The praying mantis suddenly screeched, energy flooding its entire being and rapidly making it stronger.

WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH

The wolves continued to die, their aura leaving their bodies and trying to reach the mantis.

"No!" I said before grabbing the aura. Strangely, it was immediately absorbed by my spirit.

[ You collected Aura (Wild, 1–3) ]

[ Aura has been stored ]

"But... what? I can just steal it?" I said, curious. "I only wanted to interfere a little."

However, my face twisted into a frown.

"I collected aura, yet my own aura remains the same." I wondered why for a few moments before extending my hand and summoning the aura again.

"I’m sorry about this..." I said as I pushed the aura toward the mantis.

"But more importantly... what’s stored in this land?" I summoned the warehouse.

Dozens of eggs of various sizes floated in the sky above.

Suddenly, some of them stirred naturally, being drawn toward me.

[ Do you wish to absorb the aura? ]

"I can? Yes."

[ You gained aura... ]

[ You gained aura... ]

[ You gained aura... ]

[ ... ]

They were soon absorbed by me, my aura clearly growing stronger.

"Status..."

Level: 92

Aura: 750 / 1500

My level had increased considerably from the battle, each myriad rat granting me experience along with the king and other monsters killed by accident.

As for my aura, it had increased significantly thanks to the king and the other demons who were caught off guard—but almost nothing from the rest, even considering the recent boost.

"Good, but still not enough. I’ll need to hunt more of them." I sighed before hearing a new notification.

[ The neighboring ruler died accidentally; their domain can be annexed. Do you wish to proceed? ]

"Oh, seriously? Well, in that case—yes."

[ The neighboring ruler abandoned the territory out of fear; their domain can be annexed. Do you wish to proceed? ]

"Of course."

[ The neighboring ruler surrendered and offers their territory in exchange for their life; their domain can be annexed. Do you wish to proceed? ]

"Yes."

[ The neighboring ruler... ]

[ ... ]

[ ... ]

[ ... ]

[ There is enough stored aura to raise your current stage. Do you wish to absorb it? ]

"Why do they store this? But, yes." I said amid the skies as dozens of red cores flew toward me.

[ You gained aura... ]

[ You gained aura... ]

[ You gained aura... ]

[ ... ]

[ The user has reached the aura limit. ]

[ The foundation stages have been successfully completed. ]

[ The sublimation stage has been successfully completed. ]

[ There is enough energy to raise the user to the maximum level. Proceed? ]

"Yes." I said amid the radiant mist, which suddenly began spinning like a vortex around me.

[ You leveled up... ]

[ You leveled up... ]

[ You leveled up... ]

[ ... ]

[ Level one hundred has been reached. ]

[ Capability to go beyond the maximum verified. Do you wish to proceed? ]

"Yes."

More and more vortices spun around me.

[ You leveled up... ]

[ You leveled up... ]

[ You leveled up... ]

[ ... ]

[ The user has reached the maximum level. ]

[ The user has completely filled their vessel. ]

[ The user has fully completed their foundation. ]

[ The user has reached the extreme limit of what a mortal vessel can withstand. ]

[ The user must now proceed with evolution. Do you accept? ]

I opened my mortal eyes and commanded the rats around me.

"My first order as your master is this: protect me with your lives until I awaken."

"As you wish!" they shouted in unison.

Once more, I closed my eyes and looked down upon myself and the rats from above.

"I command this land: strengthen my servants and weaken my enemies."

Suddenly, the land’s aura and energy resonated with the small rats, making them several times stronger.

"If anyone tries to attack me, they will grow weaker." I said with a wave of my hand.

"These are the privileges of a ruler. This land is mine, and I decide who is strong or weak, who gains experience and who does not."

I sighed, feeling a light drowsiness wash over me.

"You’ve waited a long time for this, haven’t you?" I said to the system. "Begin the evolution."

[ The system congratulates the user. ]

[ Initiating evolution... ]

Suddenly, my body grew heavier as the drowsiness became even stronger.

Time to evolve.

...

"ANYA!!!!" the King of Condor roared from atop his throne, shaking heaven and earth, waking and startling the hydra behind him.

BOOOM

The doors of the throne room flew open as a young woman rushed clumsily toward the king with her retinue of advisors.

"My king! What is it?" she asked tensely.

"Shattered Sky!!! The only thing that even slightly separated Axel from Condor is gone!" he continued shouting. "Explain yourself immediately!"

"Axel? Condor?" Anya tilted her head in doubt. "Do those countries even still exist? I thought they’d already been wiped off the map."

"..."

"..."

"For the love of—" The king pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a long sigh before gesturing for the advisors to speak to her.

"Oh! Axel and Condor! Yes, yes—Shattered Sky no longer exists. From now on, it shall be called Starry Sky." She nodded, satisfied. "In the coming days, hordes of demons will invade both countries, fleeing that land and its great demonic ruler."

"Who conquered that land?" he asked in an acidic tone. "Who drove out those wild demons? Tell me so I can kill him!"

"Oh heavens! Your Majesty, don’t speak like that. That’s a very bold attitude, don’t you think? Aren’t you afraid he might hear you?"

"..."

"What did you say, Anya?" He straightened his posture, taking the conversation more seriously.

"Oh...You’re still not afraid of him... good job! try to keep it that way!"