Taehyung reached out his hand. A blue light emerged from his hand, sparkling vividly, almost like sprinkled stardust.
He waved his hand, and as if sprinkling stardust, the sparkling blue light began to form patterns in the air. Thankfully,
The ethereal figure of the sparkling blue light, gliding through the air while scattering glittering dust, resembled traces of aerial acrobatics.
The light flickered, and soon began to change colors. Red, green, orange, black, white, and so on…
Thus, the light that filled the air soon completed a large star shape before disappearing.
“Wow.”
Taehyung sighed in admiration as he withdrew his outstretched hand. Then, the star-shaped light that filled the air was drawn into Taehyung’s hand.
“This is incredible.”
The mystic power truly fascinated him. If someone were to ask what mystic power was, he probably couldn’t give a straightforward answer. It was so subtly complex that it defied explanation.
But one thing was certain.
“This is definitely a power from a higher dimension.”
This power was formidable.
It wasn’t about destructive power. In fact, mana itself had superior destructive power.
To put it differently, it had a higher degree of influence.
This power had the ability to intervene more actively in the phenomena occurring in the world.
For instance, things like this were possible.
As Taehyung reached out his hand, a sparkling blue light emerged, forming a shape.
It was a large mug. Taehyung lightly grasped the mug composed of mystic power.
The sensation was peculiar. It felt squishy, almost like holding a cup made of pudding.
He poured water into it. The water held.
After taking a sip, he dispersed the power. The mug disappeared without a trace.
“How fascinating.”
In truth, if one was proficient in handling mana, it could have been achieved with mana alone. However, there was a clear difference.
The difference lay in the expenditure of energy.
Mana tended to revert to its original state if not processed, making it difficult to handle in its natural state. Moreover, the efficiency of power itself was not particularly high. Mana users like martial artists or wizards didn’t just use mana arbitrarily.
If it were easy to use in itself, there wouldn’t be techniques like internal energy cultivation, aura manipulation, or circle manipulation.
While Taehyung could manipulate mana freely, it was only possible due to his exceptional talent. Even someone like Taehyung would quickly become exhausted after manipulating mana a few times. It became much smoother after acquiring skills, though.
However, mystic power had none of these constraints.
No matter how freely he moved, it didn’t strain him at all. More precisely, even if he expended energy, it quickly replenished to its original state. If it were mana, he would have needed quite a long rest for recovery.
Moreover, its influence on phenomena was much higher, making it seem like a power from a higher dimension in many ways.
It was definitely worth researching. It had concentrated value for exploration.
“Anyway, that little fellow should be doing well.”
He had grown quite significantly, gaining confidence, and had promptly transitioned to the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension.
The truly fortunate thing was that those little fellows didn’t target giant wasps. If they had targeted them, the factions they had built up would have likely been reduced to nothing by now.
“Stay strong, little one.”
Taehyung quietly cheered for him.
*
Perched proudly on the body of the wasp general, Gloki looked up at the colossal rock giant before him.
The giant was even larger than a king toad. The overwhelming pressure emanating from that giant was no joke.
Facing that pressure head-on, his body trembled noticeably. Even now, with his physique enhanced by mystic power.
Honestly, he wanted to run away. His instincts still warned him to flee. But Gloki didn’t.
He couldn’t run away forever. He was ambitious. Retreating was an option only when there was absolutely no hope left. But until then, why not give it a try?
If worse came to worst, he could summon his master. So, he decided to throw the dice.
Normally, he would never take such a gamble. But now, there was no other choice.
“Primordial. A constant-absorbing existence. An existence that knows no satisfaction. Though feeble now, you will soon become a powerful threat to the balance of the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension.”
The Guardian of Balance spoke, his eyes shining. He reached out his hand. Tremendous suction force emanated from his massive hand, pulling Gloki towards him.
Ahhhh!
Gloki stuck to the giant’s hand like a magnet. The Guardian of Balance glared at the tiny slime that had come into his hand.
“I am the Guardian of Balance. An entity that maintains equilibrium. It is my duty to eliminate you, the one who threatens the balance.”
“But the Wolf King spared you. For the first and last time, I’ll give you a chance. Pass the test. Survive.”
Flash!
The gem on the giant’s forehead glowed. The light was absorbed into Gloki.
His vision narrowed to a single point like a whirlpool.
In an instant, Gloki lost consciousness.
*
Gloki regained consciousness. Darkness surrounded him on all sides.
He couldn’t see anything. He couldn’t even feel anything. He moved, but didn’t perceive if he was moving.
There was a faint feeling that his consciousness was fading.
Gloki bounced up and down. His body sparkled.
It was an action to regain consciousness. Of course, even doing so didn’t fully awaken him. He couldn’t feel anything.
Did he really bounce up and down? Or was it just a thought? He couldn’t feel anything.
[Master]
No response. The same when he called his subordinates.
[I’m trapped]
Gloki explored the repository of internal components. Some were damaged due to frenetic mysterious forces, but there were still many intact.
[Should I absorb all of it? It would make me stronger. But then, can I escape this darkness?]
[No, I’m not certain. Even if I do that, it doesn’t seem like I can escape this darkness.]
Gradually, Gloki felt fear.
[Fear.]
[Can I escape from this abyss where I can’t see or feel anything?]
[Perhaps, I might be trapped in this darkness forever?]
[Master, I miss you.]
Gloki continued to express determination, repeating it deliberately. If he didn’t do that, it felt like his existence would fade away.
Gloki subconsciously emitted mysterious energy. The energy completely enveloped his body, appearing as if defending against external intrusion.
It certainly helped. Sensations that were once nonexistent gradually began to emerge.
Eventually, he regained full sensation. He could see ahead.
This wasn’t where he had been. It was surrounded by rocky terrain.
A piece of information flowed into his consciousness.
This was the interior of the Guardian of Balance’s physical form.
[Surprising. To have reached here.]
[If darkness cannot be penetrated, you did. The words of the Wolf King were not wrong.]
[But, that alone is not enough to judge.]
A voice echoed in the void. It belonged to the Guardian of Balance.
[Primordial slime. A being that knows no satisfaction. I shall judge your potential. Can you truly control that endless greed?]
Suddenly, Gloki’s perspective shifted.
Familiar air, familiar sensation. This was undoubtedly the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension.
But it wasn’t the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension he knew.
Everything was different. There was no vast nature. It was all desolate ruins.
The forests were burnt, the meadows turned into arid wastelands. In the distance, a volcano erupted violently, while sandstorms engulfed the desert region entirely.
Yes, this was the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension where destruction had arrived.
The sky of the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension in ruin was entirely red. In the midst of that red sky, there was something.
A grotesque, massive flying object of unknown origin. And atop it rode an unmistakable slime.
Though slightly different in appearance, it was undoubtedly Gloki himself.
[Is that me?]
Gloki looked down at his own body. Clearly, he was here. But that thing up there was also unmistakably him.
Gloki emitted determination. Grotesque monsters scattered throughout the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension reacted.
Roar!
Screams echoed from all directions. Thud! Thud! The ground trembled violently, and everything began to collapse. Countless lives perished. It was a horrifying sight.
Directing all of it was Gloki. Gloki was truly the king of destruction.
Gloki turned its head abruptly. Gloki and another Gloki met each other’s gaze.
Gloki somehow felt that the other Gloki was smiling.
The body of the other Gloki exuded greed. It was a being that knew no satisfaction.
Gloki felt a strong attraction.
Somehow, he felt he wanted to become like that. Very strongly.
[Past being. Nice to meet you. This is your future.]
[Is that supposed to be me?]
[Yes.]
The other Gloki chuckled softly. Gloki felt chills all over his body.
That wasn’t him. The tone was different from the beginning, and the voice was different too. He wasn’t that sinister.
But, even so, what was this strong feeling of attraction?
[We are Primordial slimes. We are inevitably expanding beings. You will soon feel it. What kind of being you are.]
[No.]
Gloki shook his body vigorously. It was a refusal. His firm body shook like pudding.
[Master. Are you there?]
He called out to Taehyung, but there was no response.
[master?]
[What are you doing?]
[Was that strange?] Another Gloki asked.
[There’s no one above you, the owner. We can’t tolerate someone existing above ourselves.]
Gloki felt puzzled. It was an absurd statement.
To Gloki, the Master was everything. The Master was the being who awakened his life, which had existed meaninglessly until then.
Everything he did was for the owner.
[Oh, that human called Kim Taehyung? I must have eaten that insignificant human long ago. He’s gone now.]
[······.]
[I’ll say it again, there’s nothing above you. Remember that.]
[No.]
It became certain. That wasn’t me.
Just something resembling me.
[You’re not Gloki.]
[Heh heh. You’re denying it.]
Yes. That could be my future.
It’s okay if it turns out that way.
Because if not, then it’s fine.
[I can’t live without an owner.]
He felt a strong sense of urgency. That sense of urgency was deeply ingrained in Kkorogi’s consciousness.
Gloki was determined.
[That’s not me!]
As he grew in power and expansion, it was all for the owner.
The owner wouldn’t want such a thing.
[I will never become like that!]
At that moment.
Crack!
The world shattered into pieces.
[Surprising. Truly surprising. The primal instinct, the Primordial Slime, has overcome its instincts. What kind of harmony is this supposed to be?]
It’s an abyssal rocky terrain. The face of a rocky giant is visible in front. Although clearly expressionless, Gloki felt that the rocky giant was somehow smiling.
[Yes. You’ve passed the test. My mission ends here.]
[But remember. If there’s even a hint of imbalance, I’ll resume my activities.]
Crack!
Eventually, the world completely collapsed.
Gloki returned to his original world.
Gloki looked around.
The guardian of balance was nowhere to be seen.
He was on the ground.
“Gloki! Are you okay?” The voice of his Master echoed.
Buzz! Buzz!
A giant wasp general flew fiercely. That movement surely meant concern.
[Master.]
“I’m okay?”
[Alright.]
“Phew. That’s a relief.”
[Master.]
“Yeah.”
[Gloki, I will never betray my owner.]
“Of course not. I’m the same way.”
Taehyung smiled.
Whatever had happened to Gloki, there was certainly a change in his demeanor.
Like Karim, Gloki was family to Taehyung. For Taehyung, family was a fence where he could always find solace and confide, no matter what.
[I swear by my existence.]
In an instant.
[Summoned creature Gloki swears eternal loyalty!]
[From now on, summoned creature Gloki will never betray you, no matter what!]
[Gloki grows stronger!]
Gloki began to be engulfed in a bright light once again.
“Oh, succeeded?”
Somewhere distant, a large wolf watched Gloki with a subtle smile.
Taehyung reached out his hand. A blue light emerged from his hand, sparkling vividly, almost like sprinkled stardust.
He waved his hand, and as if sprinkling stardust, the sparkling blue light began to form patterns in the air. Thankfully,
The ethereal figure of the sparkling blue light, gliding through the air while scattering glittering dust, resembled traces of aerial acrobatics.
The light flickered, and soon began to change colors. Red, green, orange, black, white, and so on…
Thus, the light that filled the air soon completed a large star shape before disappearing.
“Wow.”
Taehyung sighed in admiration as he withdrew his outstretched hand. Then, the star-shaped light that filled the air was drawn into Taehyung’s hand.
“This is incredible.”
The mystic power truly fascinated him. If someone were to ask what mystic power was, he probably couldn’t give a straightforward answer. It was so subtly complex that it defied explanation.
But one thing was certain.
“This is definitely a power from a higher dimension.”
This power was formidable.
It wasn’t about destructive power. In fact, mana itself had superior destructive power.
To put it differently, it had a higher degree of influence.
This power had the ability to intervene more actively in the phenomena occurring in the world.
For instance, things like this were possible.
As Taehyung reached out his hand, a sparkling blue light emerged, forming a shape.
It was a large mug. Taehyung lightly grasped the mug composed of mystic power.
The sensation was peculiar. It felt squishy, almost like holding a cup made of pudding.
He poured water into it. The water held.
After taking a sip, he dispersed the power. The mug disappeared without a trace.
“How fascinating.”
In truth, if one was proficient in handling mana, it could have been achieved with mana alone. However, there was a clear difference.
The difference lay in the expenditure of energy.
Mana tended to revert to its original state if not processed, making it difficult to handle in its natural state. Moreover, the efficiency of power itself was not particularly high. Mana users like martial artists or wizards didn’t just use mana arbitrarily.
If it were easy to use in itself, there wouldn’t be techniques like internal energy cultivation, aura manipulation, or circle manipulation.
While Taehyung could manipulate mana freely, it was only possible due to his exceptional talent. Even someone like Taehyung would quickly become exhausted after manipulating mana a few times. It became much smoother after acquiring skills, though.
However, mystic power had none of these constraints.
No matter how freely he moved, it didn’t strain him at all. More precisely, even if he expended energy, it quickly replenished to its original state. If it were mana, he would have needed quite a long rest for recovery.
Moreover, its influence on phenomena was much higher, making it seem like a power from a higher dimension in many ways.
It was definitely worth researching. It had concentrated value for exploration.
“Anyway, that little fellow should be doing well.”
He had grown quite significantly, gaining confidence, and had promptly transitioned to the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension.
The truly fortunate thing was that those little fellows didn’t target giant wasps. If they had targeted them, the factions they had built up would have likely been reduced to nothing by now.
“Stay strong, little one.”
Taehyung quietly cheered for him.
*
Perched proudly on the body of the wasp general, Gloki looked up at the colossal rock giant before him.
The giant was even larger than a king toad. The overwhelming pressure emanating from that giant was no joke.
Facing that pressure head-on, his body trembled noticeably. Even now, with his physique enhanced by mystic power.
Honestly, he wanted to run away. His instincts still warned him to flee. But Gloki didn’t.
He couldn’t run away forever. He was ambitious. Retreating was an option only when there was absolutely no hope left. But until then, why not give it a try?
If worse came to worst, he could summon his master. So, he decided to throw the dice.
Normally, he would never take such a gamble. But now, there was no other choice.
“Primordial. A constant-absorbing existence. An existence that knows no satisfaction. Though feeble now, you will soon become a powerful threat to the balance of the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension.”
The Guardian of Balance spoke, his eyes shining. He reached out his hand. Tremendous suction force emanated from his massive hand, pulling Gloki towards him.
Ahhhh!
Gloki stuck to the giant’s hand like a magnet. The Guardian of Balance glared at the tiny slime that had come into his hand.
“I am the Guardian of Balance. An entity that maintains equilibrium. It is my duty to eliminate you, the one who threatens the balance.”
“But the Wolf King spared you. For the first and last time, I’ll give you a chance. Pass the test. Survive.”
Flash!
The gem on the giant’s forehead glowed. The light was absorbed into Gloki.
His vision narrowed to a single point like a whirlpool.
In an instant, Gloki lost consciousness.
*
Gloki regained consciousness. Darkness surrounded him on all sides.
He couldn’t see anything. He couldn’t even feel anything. He moved, but didn’t perceive if he was moving.
There was a faint feeling that his consciousness was fading.
Gloki bounced up and down. His body sparkled.
It was an action to regain consciousness. Of course, even doing so didn’t fully awaken him. He couldn’t feel anything.
Did he really bounce up and down? Or was it just a thought? He couldn’t feel anything.
[Master]
No response. The same when he called his subordinates.
[I’m trapped]
Gloki explored the repository of internal components. Some were damaged due to frenetic mysterious forces, but there were still many intact.
[Should I absorb all of it? It would make me stronger. But then, can I escape this darkness?]
[No, I’m not certain. Even if I do that, it doesn’t seem like I can escape this darkness.]
Gradually, Gloki felt fear.
[Fear.]
[Can I escape from this abyss where I can’t see or feel anything?]
[Perhaps, I might be trapped in this darkness forever?]
[Master, I miss you.]
Gloki continued to express determination, repeating it deliberately. If he didn’t do that, it felt like his existence would fade away.
Gloki subconsciously emitted mysterious energy. The energy completely enveloped his body, appearing as if defending against external intrusion.
It certainly helped. Sensations that were once nonexistent gradually began to emerge.
Eventually, he regained full sensation. He could see ahead.
This wasn’t where he had been. It was surrounded by rocky terrain.
A piece of information flowed into his consciousness.
This was the interior of the Guardian of Balance’s physical form.
[Surprising. To have reached here.]
[If darkness cannot be penetrated, you did. The words of the Wolf King were not wrong.]
[But, that alone is not enough to judge.]
A voice echoed in the void. It belonged to the Guardian of Balance.
[Primordial slime. A being that knows no satisfaction. I shall judge your potential. Can you truly control that endless greed?]
Suddenly, Gloki’s perspective shifted.
Familiar air, familiar sensation. This was undoubtedly the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension.
But it wasn’t the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension he knew.
Everything was different. There was no vast nature. It was all desolate ruins.
The forests were burnt, the meadows turned into arid wastelands. In the distance, a volcano erupted violently, while sandstorms engulfed the desert region entirely.
Yes, this was the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension where destruction had arrived.
The sky of the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension in ruin was entirely red. In the midst of that red sky, there was something.
A grotesque, massive flying object of unknown origin. And atop it rode an unmistakable slime.
Though slightly different in appearance, it was undoubtedly Gloki himself.
[Is that me?]
Gloki looked down at his own body. Clearly, he was here. But that thing up there was also unmistakably him.
Gloki emitted determination. Grotesque monsters scattered throughout the Abyssal Chronicles Dimension reacted.
Roar!
Screams echoed from all directions. Thud! Thud! The ground trembled violently, and everything began to collapse. Countless lives perished. It was a horrifying sight.
Directing all of it was Gloki. Gloki was truly the king of destruction.
Gloki turned its head abruptly. Gloki and another Gloki met each other’s gaze.
Gloki somehow felt that the other Gloki was smiling.
The body of the other Gloki exuded greed. It was a being that knew no satisfaction.
Gloki felt a strong attraction.
Somehow, he felt he wanted to become like that. Very strongly.
[Past being. Nice to meet you. This is your future.]
[Is that supposed to be me?]
[Yes.]
The other Gloki chuckled softly. Gloki felt chills all over his body.
That wasn’t him. The tone was different from the beginning, and the voice was different too. He wasn’t that sinister.
But, even so, what was this strong feeling of attraction?
[We are Primordial slimes. We are inevitably expanding beings. You will soon feel it. What kind of being you are.]
[No.]
Gloki shook his body vigorously. It was a refusal. His firm body shook like pudding.
[Master. Are you there?]
He called out to Taehyung, but there was no response.
[master?]
[What are you doing?]
[Was that strange?] Another Gloki asked.
[There’s no one above you, the owner. We can’t tolerate someone existing above ourselves.]
Gloki felt puzzled. It was an absurd statement.
To Gloki, the Master was everything. The Master was the being who awakened his life, which had existed meaninglessly until then.
Everything he did was for the owner.
[Oh, that human called Kim Taehyung? I must have eaten that insignificant human long ago. He’s gone now.]
[······.]
[I’ll say it again, there’s nothing above you. Remember that.]
[No.]
It became certain. That wasn’t me.
Just something resembling me.
[You’re not Gloki.]
[Heh heh. You’re denying it.]
Yes. That could be my future.
It’s okay if it turns out that way.
Because if not, then it’s fine.
[I can’t live without an owner.]
He felt a strong sense of urgency. That sense of urgency was deeply ingrained in Kkorogi’s consciousness.
Gloki was determined.
[That’s not me!]
As he grew in power and expansion, it was all for the owner.
The owner wouldn’t want such a thing.
[I will never become like that!]
At that moment.
Crack!
The world shattered into pieces.
[Surprising. Truly surprising. The primal instinct, the Primordial Slime, has overcome its instincts. What kind of harmony is this supposed to be?]
It’s an abyssal rocky terrain. The face of a rocky giant is visible in front. Although clearly expressionless, Gloki felt that the rocky giant was somehow smiling.
[Yes. You’ve passed the test. My mission ends here.]
[But remember. If there’s even a hint of imbalance, I’ll resume my activities.]
Crack!
Eventually, the world completely collapsed.
Gloki returned to his original world.
Gloki looked around.
The guardian of balance was nowhere to be seen.
He was on the ground.
“Gloki! Are you okay?” The voice of his Master echoed.
Buzz! Buzz!
A giant wasp general flew fiercely. That movement surely meant concern.
[Master.]
“I’m okay?”
[Alright.]
“Phew. That’s a relief.”
[Master.]
“Yeah.”
[Gloki, I will never betray my owner.]
“Of course not. I’m the same way.”
Taehyung smiled.
Whatever had happened to Gloki, there was certainly a change in his demeanor.
Like Karim, Gloki was family to Taehyung. For Taehyung, family was a fence where he could always find solace and confide, no matter what.
[I swear by my existence.]
In an instant.
[Summoned creature Gloki swears eternal loyalty!]
[From now on, summoned creature Gloki will never betray you, no matter what!]
[Gloki grows stronger!]
Gloki began to be engulfed in a bright light once again.
“Oh, succeeded?”
Somewhere distant, a large wolf watched Gloki with a subtle smile.
