In Kailan, monsters could have the same level but not the same combat ability.
It was because each monster had a different tier.
Starting from the normal rank up to the myth rank.
As each tier rose, the combat power of a monster increases exponentially, so the difference was nearly doubled for normal and myth ranks.
Even though the Lich King had the same level as his minions, their combat powers would surely differ.
Ian wasn’t entirely sure, but Ian thought that the difference was probably between the legendary and myth.
With that huge difference, it would be easy to take down the Lich King.
‘This… am I allowed to be like it?’
Ian looked at the Lich King with keen eyes.
Rather, if the level of Chalian was around 550, he couldn’t have helped but move ahead, but when such an unexpected situation came on, he couldn’t get himself to move.
It was because something seemed like a ‘trap’.
It wasn’t just Ian that didn’t move.
The entire expedition was watching the dynamics of Chalian with keen eyes.
Orders too didn’t come out from Ian and Shakran, but they too were embarrassed at the situation they were facing.
Shahhh-!
With a bizarre sound ringing out, the body of Chalian floated into the air again.
His black eyes gave out a gleam of a sort.
“You little humans will regret challenging the power in this body with that trivial power of the earth that you have!”
Whoooooosh-!
Subsequently, a strong wind of darkness began to swirl around Chalian.
The dark swirl was rushing with tremendous momentum as if it wanted to destroy everything in the world.
The expedition quickly backed up in order to not be swept away by it. The users were getting much more nervous.
They saw a little bit of wide-area attack deal a huge amount of damage.
No matter how bad a person was at observing, one couldn’t help but notice the difference in the level of attack that was done by the minions and the king.
The expression of Ian was different from that of before.
But unlike the others, it wasn’t an expression of nervousness or anxiousness.
Ian rather had a funny expression that looked like he was having fun.
Ian found something interesting in the Lich King.
‘Trivial power of earth?’
Ian knew that there were classes in the dimension.
Earlier, when he heard the existence of the Middle-Earth from Lugarix, he learned how the whole dimensional system was built.
The earthly system was the place where the humans and Asmodians belonged to.
In the Middle-Earth system, a higher level of dimensional systems such as Dragon Haven and Underworld existed.
And finally, the Celestial dimension, the place where the Gods were at.
Ian’s head began to work fast.
‘You mean if your power is above the level of the earth… then, did you get your power in Middle-Earth?’
However, the question didn’t just pass away that easily.
According to Ian’s knowledge, the power of the Middle-Earth couldn’t be used on Earth.
Ian asked Lugarix about the Middle-Earth the moment he found out about it, and he learned a thing or two about Middle-Earth.
Ian recalled the conversation he had with Lugarix about a month ago.
* * *
“Lugarix, how strong are you in the Middle-Earth?”
“How strong am I?”
“Yeah like, what’s your level of combat in Middle-Earth?”
Lugarix had a rather serious expression in response to Ian’s question.
Whether he hadn’t thought about it before, or as if he had been thinking about it for quite a while.
“Well… I don’t know exactly, but maybe average?”
“Yeah?”
“Huh. It may be different for other dimensions, but it is more than average in the Dragon Haven.”
“That so… I see.”
“But why are you asking?”
At the sudden question from Lugarix, Ian replied while scratching the back of his neck,
It seemed like Ian had unintentionally stepped on the pride of Lugarix.
“Hmm, much lower in level than what I had thought.”
“Wha… what?”
“Nothing, much. Honestly, you are very strong. I won’t be able to overpower you even if I use all of my summons.”
“Yeah!”
“But, if you were in the Middle-Earth… then you’re much weaker than my expectations in the Middle-Earth?”
At the convincing statement from Ian, the red-faced Lugarix glanced at him.
Lugarix seemed like he was being unfairly judged.
“That isn’t it, stupid Ian.”
Elcarix who was listening to their conversation suddenly interrupted after hearing the word ‘stupid’.
“Our dad is a genius!”
“Ahhh, not that. Whatever!”
After Ian saw Lugarix tingling around, he felt something strange.
‘This jerk Lugarix is a bully, but then, he isn’t the one to make a groundless claim…’
Being interested in it, Ian began to scoop for more around Lugarix.
“If not, then what?”
“Uhhh!”
“Is there something I don’t understand?”
Lugarix fell for the bait that Ian threw.
“Of course, you don’t! If I use my power of Middle-Earth…!”
“Oho?”
“I… I don’t know! I’m much stronger than Ian thinks!”
Ian smiled at what Lugarix said. Lugarix was trying to get a peek of Ian’s face.
The guy took the bait; now it meant that he had to pull the fish up.
“Aeee, you need to explain what the power of Middle-Earth is.”
“That… I can’t do that…!”
“What can’t you do?”
“We mustn’t talk about the Middle-Earth to the beings of the earth.”
“Yeah? Then, no one would believe that what your saying is true, right?”
“…!”
“The great power that you say is hidden inside of you.”
“Can’t you just believe what I have to say?”
“Hmm. I just can’t. I can’t believe you until you talk about the power of the Middle-Earth in detail.”
“Kuk!”
Ian continued to speak,
“You already told me a lot about the Middle-Earth.”
“Right.”
“So, it wouldn’t really make a difference if you say more about it, right?”
“Nevertheless…!”
“Talk quick. Otherwise, I will think that you’re making things up about the Middle-Earth.”
“Making things up!? Absolutely not!”
Lugarix fell into the trap laid out by Ian and started to spout things about the power of the Middle-Earth.
It was surely an interesting story that wasn’t going to be helpful to Ian right away.
‘So… the power gathered in the higher dimensions cannot be used in the lower dimensions.’
Lugarix’s explanation was simple.
When a qualified person entered Middle-Earth, he would be given the title of ‘Intermediate’. At the same time, he would be able to practice transcendental powers.
While that power was surely greater than the power available on earth. Most of it was sealed.
He also stated that despite his transcendental power being powerful, he couldn’t help but not use it in the human world.
‘It was similar to the Gods not using their powers in the human world.’
Ian found another hidden setting of Kailan’s system, which made him feel very good.
‘Intermediate. The power of transcendental… I want to go to Middle-Earth as soon as I can.’
He wasn’t sure what the qualification was, but he thought until he knew that, he would keep gathering information about Middle-Earth.
‘If we catch the Lich King and ask him about the Underworld, I might be able to know everything.’
With the information he gathered from Lugarix, Ian smiled with feelings of satisfaction.
* * *
Ian’s eyes made contact with the Lich King as he was done thinking.
‘That guy. Is he trying to use the power of Middle-Earth in here? But Lugarix said that using it here wouldn’t be possible, right?’
No other thoughts came to his mind.
Given that the Lich King just displayed his level, he wouldn’t be able to make such a confident statement unless he had the power of Middle-Earth.
‘Does he know how to use the power of Middle-Earth here?’
Just thinking about that made Ian feel nervous.
He realized that he had overlooked something until now.
“Lugarix too is of level 500, right?”
Ian spat out those words without even realizing it.
The guild person who was next to him was puzzled, and Ian wasn’t worried about it.
‘It isn’t just Lugarix. The King of wheels, and Iriel as well… as the level of reinforcement sent by the Gods. Captain Baek Whe-su during the war with the Devildom were of level 500.’
In addition, when he further thought about it, the first time he met Chalian, he was exactly level 500.
By this time, Ian’s guess was now a fact and not a guess.
‘Manrep! It must be a level 500 Manrep! Obviously, this didn’t mean the end of his growth, but the highest level one could raise in the human world was 500!’
As the puzzles fell into place, Ian trembled unknowingly.
‘It wasn’t unusual for the Lich King to have a level of 500. No matter how strong he was, he wouldn’t be able to go beyond the highest level set on the human’s system.’
Chuk-!
After all those thoughts, Ian aimed his red sword at the Lich King.
There was some reason for why he was confident, but he wasn’t hesitating anymore.
‘I don’t know how to use the power of the Middle-Earth, but I need to rush in to get the answer.’
Stomp stomp-
Ian, who was ready to face the Lich King, slowly took strides in the direction of Chalian.
Chalian smiled and opened his mouth to speak,
“Ian, you will be the first person to enter my family of the dead after you die.”
Ian smiled back at the words of Chalian and responded,
“Are you trying to stop me in such a whiny manner? Shut your mouth and show me if you mean it.”
Ian taunted Chalian to hurt his pride like he usually did.
As soon as Chalian heard that, he changed.
“Cheeky bastard, you’ll regret your actions soon!”
As soon as they were done exchanging words, Chalian floated into the air once again.
A purple energy began to flow inside his skeletal body.
Ian took that as the start of the battle and issued orders.
“What kind of magic will you all cast!? Magicians, prepare to cast the Shield magic!”
As the orders of Ian ended, a resonating sound rose in every direction.
Woong- Wooong-!
The energy of dark spread over a large area from both the hands of Chalian.
‘Will this magic be removed if I use Nick?’
Ian was observing Chalian with keen eyes.
And at the same time, system messages came in front of him and the other users.
Tring-!
[Lich King ‘Chalian’ begun to release the forbidden dimensional magic.]
[The ‘Enchantment of Darkness’ has been settled across the dungeon of ‘Falcacio Stronghold’.]
[The Dimensional Tower of the ‘Falcacio Stronghold’ has temporarily changed into the ‘Middle-Earth’.]
Ian’s eyes widened as he understood the meaning behind those messages.
