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Crunch, crackle...
Janus's bone tendrils began to absorb the power of the Turncoat King.
Unlike the bone fragments previously absorbed, this was the true essence of the Turncoat King.
[Absorbing the blood and flesh of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[All performance of 'Bone Armor (Lv.5)' [Janus] has increased by 1%.]
[Efficiency with all bone parasite equipment has increased by 10%.]
[Absorbing the blood and flesh of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[All performance of 'Bone Armor (Lv.5)' [Janus] has increased by 1%.]
[Efficiency with all bone parasite equipment has increased by 10%.]
.
.
.
[Absorbing the blood and flesh of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[All performance of 'Bone Armor (Lv.5)' [Janus] has increased by 1%.]
[Efficiency with all bone parasite equipment has increased by 10%.]
I can feel it.
Janus's power is steadily growing, while the Turncoat King's power is visibly weakening.
[Gigit!]
Janus let out a cry of joy.
Truthfully, he hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
He had been prepared to endure some level of sacrifice in the worst case, but thanks to a few strokes of luck, the situation unfolded favorably.
"Carl Marcussss!"
Of course, the Turncoat Queen wasn't about to just stand by and watch. She screamed furiously and tried to lunge at me—but it wasn't that easy.
The Turncoat King was still alive, and therefore the subjugation contract was still active.
"Janus."
[Gigit!]
The moment Janus's gaze touched the Turncoat Queen, her body froze—even though moments ago she had looked ready to kill me.
Crack, creak...
The bone tendrils stopped just before my nose.
Though they were close enough to touch, the Turncoat Queen's bone tendrils could go no further.
"What... is this—"
Even speaking hostile words toward me had become difficult.
That was the nature of subjugation contracts between bone parasite monsters.
"Calm down. I have no intention of breaking the promise."
"…What?"
It might sound unexpected, but I had no plan to break the subjugation contract with the Turncoat Queen.
Despite everything, someone like her was quite useful in many ways.
'Above all, once this Bone Lord hunt is over… she'll be essential for building the legion.'
From what I knew, the Turncoat Queen was far more than just a capable combatant.
Naturally, having subjugated such a being, I intended to make full use of her.
"…So, it comes to this."
Then came a voice.
It was the Turncoat King—who had remained silent until now.
I had thought his strength was exhausted, having burned even his life in battle, but apparently he still had enough left to speak.
"Your Majesty!"
The Turncoat Queen's voice quivered with emotion.
I could imagine what she must be feeling right now—but I didn't concern myself with it.
"There were not only two who had the right to sit the throne… That was my mistake."
"What do you mean by that?"
The Turncoat King didn't answer her.
Instead, he looked at me.
"Carl Marcus."
"You have something to say?"
"You now... possess the qualification."
There was no need to ask what qualification he meant.
I had seen enough to understand what the Turncoat King and Queen considered this battle to represent.
"I'm not too interested in playing king. You lot can enjoy that all you want."
"Playing… Hah. Perhaps you're right. Maybe what we longed for was no more than a hollow title."
The Turncoat King let out a bitter laugh.
That he could still laugh in this situation—it was so very like him.
"Then let's finish this."
"Indeed. You may... truly reach the end that the Great Will so desires."
The Great Will...
It had been a long time since I'd heard that familiar term.
As someone fated to eventually reach the true conclusion of this world, I couldn't just brush it aside.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Seeking that answer... is the path the one who becomes king must walk for themselves."
"So, you're not going to tell me."
Not that I had expected him to.
Besides, I'd come to know the answer myself once I fully absorbed the Turncoat King.
No need to rush.
"Janus."
[Gigit!]
Janus's absorption began accelerating.
This meant his understanding and digestion of the Turncoat King's power were increasing at a noticeable pace.
"Stop, please stop!"
The Turncoat Queen sobbed.
But far from stopping, Janus's absorption grew even fiercer.
Crunch, crackle...!
[Fully absorbed the core of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[All performance of 'Bone Armor (Lv.5)' [Janus] has increased by 50%.]
[Efficiency with all bone parasite equipment has increased by 100%.]
The Turncoat King's body was reduced to little more than skin and bones.
Yet Janus did not stop.
[Fully absorbed the essence of the soul of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[Seized control over all subordinate monsters of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[Acquired 'Qualification of the King'.]
[Subjugation conditions for bone parasite monsters have been drastically reduced.]
[The limit on the number of bone parasite monsters that can be subjugated has been removed.]
"Your Majestyyy!"
The Turncoat Queen screamed in despair.
Still, Janus did not stop.
[Absorbed the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
[Can now use the abilities of the Beyond-Grade Skull Turncoat, 'Turncoat King'.]
There was nothing left where the Turncoat King had lain.
Janus had devoured every last trace of him—without even leaving bone dust behind.
Finally, Janus stopped.
"Your Majestyyyyy───!"
With the Turncoat Queen's agonized scream, a crack finally formed in the subjugation contract that had bound her.
Now free, she growled at me with vicious intent.
Even though I'd gained control of all the monsters the Turncoat King had commanded, the Turncoat Queen herself had never been one of them.
"…It's time to pay for all of this, Carl Marcus."
Her tone had lost all pretense of politeness or formality.
She was now a monster, true to her essence as the Turncoat Queen.
But there was no need for concern.
The leash for the Turncoat Queen's neck still remained.
["Enough."]
Suddenly, a voice—the Turncoat King's—rang out, and the Turncoat Queen froze.
The subjugation contract began to assert its power once again.
"What is this...?"
Only then did the Turncoat Queen realize where the voice had come from—Janus.
More precisely, a part of Janus.
The Turncoat King's voice flowed out from within.
["I see. So, you truly absorbed my entire self. I didn't know this was even possible."]
The Turncoat Queen looked between Janus and me in disbelief.
"Your Majesty...?"
["Sorry. It's come to this."]
Ssssss...!
One of Janus's bone tendrils unraveled and began interweaving with others, forming a shape.
The Turncoat King.
It had taken his form.
["Hmm... So even physical manifestation is possible in this way. But aren't you giving me a bit too much autonomy?"]
"I'm not just allowing it. You've got things you need to do."
["I see... Understood."]
The Turncoat Queen still looked as if she couldn't comprehend what was happening as she stared at me, aghast.
"What… what have you done to His Majesty, Carl Marcus!"
"As you can see. You might say I gave him a new body."
Indeed, the Turncoat King had been devoured by Janus—but because the devouring was so complete, even his consciousness had been absorbed.
His soul, too.
Naturally, I had no intention of wasting such a valuable card. I'd given him a degree of autonomy so I could make use of his mind.
"Ah… aaahhh..."
Unable to accept the reality before her, the Turncoat Queen grabbed her face and screamed.
["Rise. There's no time."]
"…Your Majesty?"
["They're coming."]
The battle to decide the true king.
There was no room for trivial emotions like sorrow.
BOOOOOOM───!
With a thunderous explosion, two figures crashed beside us and shuddered.
"I can't hold on... anymore...!"
["Same… kin… at… limit..."]
The Turncoat Rook and the Turncoat Knight.
While I was absorbing the Turncoat King, they had been fending off the attacks of the Church of Morte—and they had finally reached their limits.
"You did well."
"…Don't you dare brush it off with a compliment, you bastard."
"I know. Janus."
At my command, Janus's bone tendrils extended toward the Turncoat Rook and Turncoat Knight.
"This is…"
Now that Janus—empowered with the Turncoat King's strength—was providing nourishment to them, their auras shifted dramatically.
"This is finally doable. Let's go—at this level, we can handle those Church of Morte bastards."
The Turncoat Rook grinned viciously.
The power gained from the Turncoat King was no small thing.
"No need."
"What do you mean? Don't tell me you want to run away now?"
"No. We're going to take down the Bone Lord."
"…What?"
The Turncoat Rook's face went blank, as did the Turncoat Knight and the Turncoat Queen beside him.
"Is that really necessary? We've already mimicked a part of the Bone Lord, so if we take down the Church of Morte first, we can finish this easily."
["I agree… with that opinion."]
Even the usually silent Turncoat Knight voiced his thoughts.
Fighting the Church of Morte directly while avoiding the Bone Lord wasn't a bad option. But I saw no need.
'Perfect timing.'
Before this battle began, I had sent a signal through Janus.
I hadn't expected much—but whether by luck or fate, a very familiar silhouette now began to appear in the distance.
["Hooh… So, you've set the stage this far. I suppose it's no surprise things have turned out like this."]
The Turncoat King, realizing what I had been waiting for, expressed genuine admiration.
Finally, it appeared before us.
"What the hell are you all talking ab—"
The Turncoat Rook's question was cut short.
Somehow, it had already arrived.
"No way… What is that doing here?"
The Turncoat Queen was horrified as she stared at it.
"It's here."
The Immortal.
The master of the Cracked Desert had appeared in the battle to decide the true king.
===BREAK===
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