The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Amidst the clash of luminescence, the radiance that had painted the sky and bathed the entire city in a vibrant green hue found itself overshadowed by the immense brilliance released by the colossal black dragon, Megalodria, as he ascended into the heavens.

Davey had explicitly instructed Megalodria to devour it all, leaving no room for complaints regarding the method, don't you think? While one might argue that it was a mere play on words, the fact remained that the Breath consumed the radiance of the thermonuclear bomb.

The somber clouds in the sky dispersed, forming a circular void as the overwhelming and awe-inspiring Breath raged above. And as for the bomb, cloaked in a verdant glow? It disintegrated into thousands of fragments, akin to white phosphorus munitions descending from the heavens.

However, Megalodria, still emanating Breath that rent the sky asunder, simply turned his head and incinerated everything descending from above.

—Roaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!!!

Leon gazed up at the sky, his mind in a haze, as light once again graced the city. The dark clouds that had shrouded them in darkness were torn asunder. Laeuri, who had lost consciousness, missed this sight but still received some protection from Davey.

Before long, Megalodria unfurled his four pairs of wings and gently touched down on the ground. Upon seeing this, Davey swiftly produced a sizable chunk of meat from his pocket dimension and hurled it toward the colossal storm dragon king.

"I've infused it with radiation. I think you'll find the flavor rather invigorating."

[Hmph! Don't think for a moment that I'll be satisfied with this!]

"So, you won't eat it?"

[I'll eat!]

Despite his grumbling, Megalodria devoured the meat Davey had thrown at him, leaving not a single bite behind.

"Davey, radiation is lethal to living creatures."

"That fellow has a rather finicky palate."

"...Rinne has taken note of the Storm Dragon King's peculiar dietary preferences," Rinne remarked as she jotted down notes with her pen from an unknown source.

As absurd as it may sound, Davey knew someone whose preferred snack was magma and another who savored extremely cold ice. And the colossal sky lizard before him? He had a taste for radiation.

[Contractor, I sense numerous signals approaching us. They carry the same foul scent of decaying and rotting bodies that permeates this city.]

If Megalodria, a grandmaster-class mythical beast, stepped in, they wouldn't pose a problem. However, Davey hadn't given such an order.

"Let them be. I have a purpose for all my devil mana."

Davey had made a promise, an oath, regarding how to deal with beings stripped of fear, moving solely on instinct.

Megalodria's presence was undeniably overwhelming and terrifying. Yet, Davey could sense that those culprits from Parasol, who were behind all this, had mobilized their biological weapons in the city to erase him.

Davey reached out to Perserque, who pouted. She seemed disappointed to part with the Transcendence's Demise that she had held for some time. Nevertheless, she reluctantly returned it to Davey in the end.

“Sob… Just wait for me. I will come find you again.”

“You’re not a part of a broken family.” Davey clicked his tongue.

Just like any other mage, Perserque showed a terrible obsession over a staff.

‘It would be preferable if she exhibited some of that obsession toward me.’

Suddenly, Davey pondered an easy way to deal with Perserque, but he promptly dismissed it and buried it in the deepest corners of his mind.

Once he held the Transcendence's Demise, Davey swiftly turned and leaped onto the rubble of a demolished building nearby. He silently surveyed the now-devastated city, placing one hand on the ground and closing his eyes. Then, he summoned the dormant dark mana within him.

This city held great significance for Davey, prompting one to wonder why. After all, hadn't he already gathered all the plutium he needed earlier? The reason lay in the fact that the amount of plutium he had secured was still slightly less than his initial expectations.

"Davey, why can't you just admit that you don't want to see ordinary people die because of the Abyss?"

Davey had pledged to never turn a blind eye to the suffering of the deceased. This was the duty of one who served as God's saint. Goddess Freyja's reach extended beyond the Tionis Continent, and all life in any world was her creation—a fact that would remain unchanged.

"Be quiet! Fool," Davey retorted as Perserque chuckled, her laughter suggesting she had found an intriguing amusement.

Davey was certain that Parasol had already positioned numerous surveillance devices throughout the city. They were probably watching him at this very moment. Nevertheless, they were welcome to observe as much as they pleased.

"I'll ensure you witness a scene unlike any other."

Whether they were mutants or regular infected, they were still lifeless bodies. It seemed only fitting to respond to those who toyed with corpses on behalf of the dead.

[9th Circle Transcendental Devil Magic.]

[Death Roar.]

Shwaaaaaaaa!!!

Meanwhile, Davey's head throbbed painfully as an immense surge of devil mana coursed and fluctuated within his body. The intensity of his headache corresponded to the amount and level of power he used.

However, this time, the penalty wasn't something he could easily dismiss, as he could with the slight hiccup experienced during space transfer magic earlier. This was precisely why he resorted to using the Transcendence's Demise.

The Transcendence's Demise possessed the ability to adjust the scale of one's magic. Nevertheless, this power was only sufficient to classify it as an auxiliary artifact rather than a mage's primary staff. A staff had multifaceted utility, aiding in spellcasting, mana management, and more. However, in Davey's case, this staff only ensured his spells hit their mark.

Soon after, devil mana seeped from Davey's body, forming a shroud of blade-like mist that enveloped him completely. It then assumed the form of a massive malevolent spirit, emitting a deafening roar.

Leon's complexion turned ashen when he witnessed the shockwave that swept across the city following the spirit's thunderous bellow. He exclaimed, "Hey! What's going on?!"

With the malevolent spirit's appearance, Leon grew increasingly agitated. Megalodria's mere presence, as he sat beside Davey in all his majesty, was already suffocating, but the malevolent spirit intensified that sensation, adding an eerie quality to it.

Rinne, who supported Leon, her bright blue eyes gleaming, commented, "Davey's tactics are straightforward but highly effective—combat numbers with numbers."

At that moment, numerous infected mutants from all corners of the city converged upon them. Given that a significant portion of the city's population had fallen victim to infection, the sight of their sheer numbers gathering in one place was profoundly unnerving.

However, Davey, now with open eyes, gazed upon them and slowly began to speak.

[In the name of the Imperfection Death Lord, I command you.]

[Your king commands all of the wandering ghosts that have lost their bodies to awaken.]

If they preferred to employ these empty shells devoid of souls, then Davey would gladly present them with the specters that had lost their physical forms and wandered in the underworld. It was only a matter of courtesy, wasn't it?

At Davey's command, the inky fog enveloping him expanded in a circular manner. After a brief moment of silence, astonishing transformations unfolded in their vicinity. Ebony hands emerged from the barren ground, as ghosts of various shapes and sizes began to stir.

In this way, a significant number of specters stirred to life, granted substance and form through Davey's influence. The quantity of ghosts that materialized far exceeded Davey's initial expectations.

Bestowing substance and form upon a ghost was nothing short of a feat of madness. It entailed injecting the power to withstand the flow into a spirit, and this process wasn't limited to just one ghost but rather a multitude of them. Essentially, Davey had to infuse an excessive amount of such power to grant form and substance to such a vast number.

Nevertheless, this endeavor promised to fuel his growth. Davey's development was remarkably straightforward; he simply needed to push his power to its limits. Once it reached its limit, he could then expand his capacity. Having attained enlightenment, he could recover everything, albeit at a gradual pace, as his mana was restored.

Since he wouldn't have another opportunity to forcefully deplete his mana to its limits except this time, he couldn't afford to let this chance slip by.

Davey didn't hesitate to draw out and deplete all the devil mana within his body. It felt as though all the energy within him had vanished. However, what other choice did he have? Even if it was only a slight increase, his mana and power would grow once he recuperated.

—Kihyeeeeeeeeeeeeeck!!!

With the disheveled ghost's screeching roar, all the other ghosts began to scream.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!!!

A wave of ghosts charged toward the infected mutants who displayed their fierce and terrifying desire to consume and transform any living being into their breeding ground.

"This will serve as the base for my dimensional trade."

In this place, Davey planned to exchange the region's unique alloys and raw materials for daily necessities and food supplies. The question was, where would he obtain enough food supplies in the Heins Territory? It should be noted that the dimensional key was not confined to the Yurgian Continent.

Nonetheless, very few possessed the ability to traverse space and engage in trade. Moreover, all the materials and products generated in this location would be for Davey's exclusive use.

Crack, crack, crack!!! Bang!!!

A considerable number of spirits and ghosts surged fiercely toward the infected undead. Their unwavering hatred for these infected mutants drove the ghosts and spirits forward.

Bang!!!

Despite a substantial number of spirits and ghosts assuming form and substance, it remained challenging for them to halt the onslaught of numerous infected mutants.

"Damn it! Aren't those Goliaths and Titans?" Leon exclaimed.

Nevertheless, Davey merely gestured with his hands. Simultaneously, a significant number of ghosts and spirits congregated, transforming into the shape of a colossal wolf. The wolf, composed of shadowy blackness, blazed fiercely as it moved. A black fog emanated from the black wolf's movements as it tore through the gigantic mutants, hurling them in all directions.

The infected typically overwhelmed their adversaries by swiftly reproducing and bolstering their numbers. A single bite would inject their parasitic eggs into the opponent's bloodstream.

The issue lay in the fact that ghosts lacked blood and flesh. As they possessed no physical bodies, the infected had no means to inject their parasites. Consequently, their conventional method of attack and terrorization was rendered ineffective. The outcome of this battle was patently evident; the ghosts swiftly tore the mutants apart, reducing them to gruesome chunks of flesh.

“Davey… Those… What the hell are they…?”

"They are the owners of those bodies. Spirits who have died unjustly cannot cross over to the afterlife and enter the cycle of reincarnation. They remain bound to the earth, wandering until they inevitably become vengeful spirits."

Perhaps the world teemed with such existences.

"Since I've taken an oath, I can't just abandon them after seeing them like this."

Gaining enlightenment and entering the cycle of reincarnation was the same for both ghosts and spirits, and that was letting go of their resentment. Only after they had released their hatred and bitterness could they ascend.

"But what if there's a greedy ghost? Ha... Even though I'm the one saying these words, it still sounds ridiculous. Did you say 'soul'? That a person's soul becomes a ghost if they can't let go of their resentment? The reality I'm facing is far more fascinating than the movies!"

"Indeed, that's generally the case with ghosts. Some will cooperate, while others won't," Davey remarked as he extended his hand and captured one of the ghosts emitting darker energy among the others.

Naturally, the ghost resisted when Davey attempted to restrain him. He used his malevolent energy, as if questioning why Davey would hinder him. Such a ghost was one who couldn't discern right from wrong.

"I clearly told you to exercise restraint. You're out, you rascal."

Clench! Fwiiiiiiiiiiiiish!!!

For ghosts of this nature, Davey had no choice but to compel them to ascend. As Cheoyeong, a notable figure from the Kingdom of Silla, once said, "Pestilent Ghosts that refuse to listen should be beaten into submission."

[6th Class Holy Magic]

[Turn Undead]

The impact of Turn Undead, now evolved to the 6th Class, was profoundly stunning. Using this magic, Davey compelled the ghosts that had gone berserk by inundating them with an overwhelming surge of holy mana.

Leon could only manage a wry smile as he sensed the energy manifesting around him.

In the blink of an eye, the ghosts that had appeared throughout the city vanished one by one. The spirits that had finally released their resentments also began to fade away. The ghosts lost their form, reverting to black mist once again. Yet, the core of their souls had already started to transform into a radiant white light, just as it had been at the outset.

[Uncle... Uncle, were you the one who saved us?]

A young boy who held the hand of an even younger girl approached Davey. The boy's face, now adorned with a radiant white light, displayed an innocent and pure smile, a world away from the gruesome and vicious expressions they had worn upon their initial appearance.

"Did it hurt a lot?"

The boy giggled upon hearing Davey's question. [It hurt a lot. Rachel cried loudly. We were trapped in a dark, damp, and frightening place when we heard Uncle's voice.]

The boy lifted his head and continued, [Mom told us to always say thank you when we receive help. Rachel, come on, let's say thank you to Uncle.]

[T-Thank you very much,] Rachel mumbled thanks to Davey, her tone cute and endearing.

Davey looked at them and gently patted the boy's head. "What's your name?"

[It's Reikin.]

"Right, Reikin. The adults deeply regret that you, who should have grown up with that pure smile on your face, got caught up in the conflict among the grown-ups." Davey didn't hear a response, yet he continued, "I hope you'll be born to parents who will make you happy in another world."

[Thank you,] Reikin replied, and a bright light enveloped the two siblings until they completely vanished.

And it wasn't just them. Countless victims in the city reverted to pure white souls and began to disappear.

[In the name of the Saint, I offer my blessings to you, who died unjustly. May the light accompany you as you enter the cycle of reincarnation.]

Davey muttered as his blessings spread across the area, enveloping the spirits that were gradually fading away. Light slowly trickled through the gaps in the thick cover of dark clouds that Megalodria had torn apart earlier. As a result, the somber and eerie atmosphere that had shrouded the city began to dissipate.

Afterward, Davey once again gripped Leon's shoulder and cast another space transfer spell. He said, "Leon, go and convey this message to Evanov."

"Go ahead, my dear friend."

"Return to this city. Rebuild this place and make it your home. Despite the past destruction, it's still a far better place than where you currently reside."

As long as the source of the infection and all the infected had been eliminated, there would be no further threat to this city.

"But there are still many infected remaining..."

"I'll take care of them."

"Davey, what do you intend to do?"

"My task here is essentially complete. However, there's one thing I can't and won't handle."

From this point forward, that would become their responsibility. Davey then leaped onto Megalodria's back. As Perserque and Rinne joined him on the dragon's back, he snapped his fingers and added, "Regarding the woman you mentioned, Corporal Laeuri, you can handle her. It's no longer my concern."

Boom!!!

With that, Leon and Laeuri vanished from the city.

Then, with an eerie smile on his face, Davey seized a green jewel. He had a hunch that the foreign entity aiding the Parasol Corporation and hiding somewhere on this continent was a Princess of the Abyss, and he believed she was observing him.

As he expected, a sound emanated from one of the damaged communication devices in the vicinity.

Bzzt... Bzzt...

Davey couldn't hear a voice through the transmission device, but they somehow conveyed their intentions to him through it. Davey's hostility surged as he felt the unsettling power of the Abyss.

"You're watching, aren't you? Wait for me there."

‘I'll come to meet you right away. It doesn't matter if you die or if I flee. Shall we have a showdown?’