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chapter 206 – First Sight(2)

-By processing parts of a great being, you’ve created the ‘Root of Judgement,’ a tool that transforms the future that has been set. Spiritual power has grown toSS-rank!

-After a long period of effort, you have completed a masterpiece. Metallurgy skill proficiency has increased to SS-rank. Strength has grown to SS-rank.

-Synchronization has greatly accelerated- current rate of 68.6%.

The first thought that Kang Shin-hyuk had was, ‘SS-rank, finally!’ It had been quite a while since his statuses had grown, and now that he had completed the shackles, his strength and spiritual power had grown to SS-rank.

‘I can feel my muscles and soul growing stronger.’ The higher the rank, the larger the actual growth was. Now, thanks to the soul connector, Kang Shin-hyuk had amplified all his stats except Golden Dragon Fighter to SS+. Even as a top-ranker, he had achieved a level that wasn’t easily found. However, his thoughts were quickly wiped away.

-Quooo!

The giant’s foot fell onto the shackles, and the root roots wriggled and wrapped around his foot.

-Kuo? Kuoo!

The giant was trying to shake them off, but the tree roots were climbing up his body at an alarming rate. They snaked around its ankle and moved up onto its calf. Soon enough, the tree roots were wound around the giant’s knee then quickly moved onto its upper thigh and hips. It then split apart to wrap around the other leg and its waist.

-Quoooooooh!

“Oh, hey…” The giant let out a resentment-filled scream as it was squeezed by the shackles. However, the giant’s roar had no effect on the tree roots. Kang Shin-hyuk suddenly felt a little terrified as he saw the roots climb the giant’s body.

“Where did I see something like this…”

-D Drive’s Shinyoung high school’s monster ecology files for the entrance exam prep…

“Shh.” How did the administrator know that? He had already disposed of all those materials! He rebuked the administrator and silently watched the scene. Meanwhile, the giant tried to cast haste again to crush the shackles, but it was too late. The tree roots were preventing him from movingproperly.

-Oh…! Kaaak!

The tree roots had already covered its chest and were moving up to his neck, pressing on his vocal cords to prevent him from screaming properly. It was the moment the voice of the giant who had slaughtered the fragile creatures of this world was finallystopped.

“Wow, why haven’t you done this before?”

-There was a condition that Halo couldn’t intervene directly. Jormungand was also unable to intervene excessively, so it borrowed power from the giant.

He had roughly guessed that would be the situation, but he didn’t think that the shackles would bring about such a reversal. He thought they would prevent the giant from moving or use those shackles to draw him into Halo’s original world. But instead, it was this…

‘The shackles… they looked like simple tree roots, but it is bound to the ground and restraining it.’ The essence of these shackles wasn’t to bind the enemy but serve as roots that dug into the earth. The moment they were completed, they deeply rooted themselves into the earth to be supplied with an infinite source of energy.

-Kh… ugh…!

As Kang Shin-hyuk watched, the tree roots crawled into the giant’s mouth and prevented him from speaking. They moved inside of him, turning him into a mummy made of wood.

“Halo, that’sscary…”

[This isn’t my strength. I’m just lending the land my power.]

And these shackles, the ‘Roots of Judgment,’ could converge and exert that energy.

-…!

Then, the giant fell. The huge shadow shook, and the earth vibrated, making it seem like the sky itself was collapsing. He urgently hopped onto his bike and sped away with a frustratedsigh.

“How can we overcome this by facing it head-on?”

[Is it necessary to win that way? This is an overwhelming victory. Since the giant was caught with your shackles, what would it be if not yourvictory.]

“But it is your power that’s killing him.”

[I’m not sure about that.]

Kang Shin-hyuk smiled and looked down at the giant. It was completely immobilized on the ground. However, the roots were beginning as they covered him more tightly. Only now did the shackle’s true ability, Energy Drain, take effect.

[The tree absorbs all the energy and stores it. In order to store it well, neither the roots nor the trunk can be weak. Look closely, Anvil. This is part of the secret to growing beyond the limit.]

“Ah…” The shackles tightened around the giant and absorbed its energy. It flowed back through the roots deeply embedded in the earth, spreading it out through the world that had lost its vitality. The world accepted the enormous vitality of the giant and sprouted anew, still weak, hope. It was the work of Halo to process it.

“The giant is dryingout…”

-It is a welcome sight. This is a complete victory overJormungand.

A being like the giant who could destroy the world was now being absorbed into the earth through the roots. All he could do was let out a sigh. Could he fight and beat the giant as he was now? Even if he extended the sword, it would be little more than a mosquito bite to him. He was saddened by the victory he had against the artificial monster in Neorust as he considered it.

‘I can’t be satisfied with the SS-rank.’ Earth’s superhuman standards were just like a child’s playground compared to the Hero Universe. As a blacksmith, he realized he hadn’t yet reached the starting line as a combat superhuman and feltdepressed.

[It’s over.]

How long had it been before Halo said those words in a satisfied voice? The giant’s body broke into powder, and a second after, so too did the tree roots, leaving nothing behind.

“…What is this…?” As the enormous existence disappeared, it felt like his vision was opened in an instant. Kang Shin-hyuk opened his mouth, stunned, as Halo kindly explained.

[Some have been received by me, and some have been sown into this world as new possibilities.]

“…No traces left.”

[No, there aresome.]

At that moment, a message appeared before his eyes.

–With an artifact containing the power of a great being, you have suppressed one that is harmful to the order of things! Bonus based on membership level! You received 555,000,000HP! As a VIP bonus, you received an additional HP equivalent to 50% of the reward, for a total of 832,500,000HP!

-You have brought an end to an evil and great being. Indirectly affected by the enormous source of energy, your stamina, and Golden Dragon will grow toSS-rank.

“…It really remains.” He didn’t know he would be treated like he had killed it. The HP bonus was immense, but so too was his growth.

‘If I only increase my agility, all my stats will be SS-rank…’ Although it took a tremendous amount of time and effort to build the shackles, it was already worth it. But it wasn’t over yet.

[What are you talking about, Anvil? Those are the traces Imeant.]

Kang Shin-hyuk raised his head and looked carefully at where the giant had been. Looking very closely, there was something there about the size of a fist.

It was a bright ochre-colored bead.