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Chapter XIX
The Vessel's Authority
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
The forest remained silent after Lucas finished speaking.
The wind moved slowly through the tall trees.
Kashihero stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the distant darkness between the branches.
The name still lingered in the air.
Demon King Xarge.
Lucas watched him carefully.
Most people would have reacted with fear.
Others would have shown excitement.
But Kashihero simply continued walking.
Calm.
Thoughtful.
Lucas finally spoke.
"You don't seem concerned."
Kashihero's voice was quiet.
"Concern doesn't solve problems."
Lucas chuckled softly.
"That's true."
They continued walking deeper into the forest.
For several minutes neither of them spoke again.
But inside Kashihero's mind, something had begun to stir.
A faint presence.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Then—
A familiar blue light appeared.
A transparent window opened in front of his eyes.
Lucas immediately noticed the slight change in Kashihero's expression.
"The system again?"
Kashihero didn't answer.
His attention remained on the floating messages.
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System Notification
Host Vessel Status Re-evaluated
Battle Performance Analysis Complete
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More text appeared beneath it.
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Carnivorous Authority: Stabilized
Soul Armament Link: Active
Devour Assimilation: Successful
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Then a new line appeared.
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Divine Authority Synchronization Detected
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Kashihero's eyes narrowed slightly.
Another message followed.
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Host recognized as Vessel Candidate
Authority compatibility recalculated.
Current Authority Capacity: 25%
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For a brief moment, the world around him felt slightly different.
A faint golden energy flowed quietly beneath his skin.
It was subtle.
But extremely powerful.
Lucas sensed the change instantly.
His crimson eyes sharpened.
"…Your aura just changed."
Kashihero slowly exhaled.
"My authority increased."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Again?"
Kashihero nodded.
The system continued displaying messages.
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Authority Source: King of the Gods
Compatibility: Stable
Further synchronization requires increased vessel strength.
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The window flickered briefly.
Then something unexpected happened.
A new message appeared.
One that had never appeared before.
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System Mission Generated
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Kashihero stopped walking.
Lucas noticed.
"What is it?"
The system continued.
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Primary Threat Identified
Target: Demon King Xarge
Threat Level: World Catastrophe
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A pause followed.
Then the mission appeared.
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Mission: Abyss Suppression
Objective:
Kill or Seal Demon King Xarge
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Lucas watched Kashihero carefully.
"You just received something interesting."
Kashihero looked at the final lines.
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Reward: Unknown
Failure Result: World Collapse Probability – High
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The message remained floating in the air.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Well?"
Kashihero closed the system window.
"Ignore it."
Lucas blinked.
"…Ignore it?"
"Yes."
Lucas laughed quietly.
"That might be the first time someone ignored a system mission."
Kashihero continued walking again.
"My objective hasn't changed."
Lucas followed him.
"And that objective is?"
Kashihero answered calmly.
"To conquer the Verse."
Lucas's smile slowly widened.
"That might accidentally involve killing a Demon King."
"Maybe."
The forest grew darker as they moved further away from the capital.
Lucas suddenly spoke again.
"You know something interesting?"
Kashihero didn't respond.
Lucas continued.
"In the underworld…"
"…abilities like Carnivorous are feared."
Kashihero glanced at him briefly.
"Why?"
Lucas's smile became slightly darker.
"Because devourers don't just defeat enemies."
"They consume them."
He paused.
"And Demon Kings hate predators."
Kashihero remained silent.
But inside his mind, he understood something.
If Demon King Xarge truly awakened…
Their paths would eventually cross.
Not because of the system.
But because two predators could not exist in the same world forever.
Lucas suddenly stopped walking.
His eyes shifted toward the distant horizon.
"Something else is moving."
Kashihero stopped as well.
"What?"
Lucas's expression became serious.
"The capital."
"The Holy Guards have begun their investigation."
Kashihero looked toward the faint lights visible beyond the forest.
Good.
The more attention the Holy Guards placed on Hollow Sigil…
The easier it would be for him to move unnoticed.
Lucas spoke again.
"So what now?"
Kashihero answered without hesitation.
"We grow stronger."
Lucas smiled.
"That's always your answer."
"Yes."
Because Kashihero understood something very clearly.
The Shadow Conspiracy had only begun.
And somewhere far beneath the world…
The seal of a Demon King was slowly weakening.
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System Notice
Mission Accepted Automatically
Abyss Suppression Activated
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Deep underground…
The darkness stirred once again.
And the name of the Devourer had already begun spreading through the Abyss.
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End of Chapter XIX
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