Past Life Returner

The request was ignored.

“Then, your servant will have no choice but to regain the lost power on his own.”

I was returned to the place where I was summoned. My entire body was throbbing as a result of the efforts I made to see the face of Doom Kaos. The plan was to enter the fortress with Joshua and discuss what to do next. I was also curious about what became possible as he had obtained the ‘Saint Land of Death.’

However, when I turned my head toward him, all I saw was Joshua’s back, flying away on the soul of the ancient dragon. He was leaving without saying a word.

Yes, right. This was understandable. Because he was right under the curtain, he must have felt the terror of Doom Kaos. He would have no choice but be conscious of Doom Kaos.

“Doom Man is not qualified to rule the Land of Death. Please give your bone ring to me.”

His attitude must have stemmed from his caution. Now that Doom Kaos had started to become cautious toward me, he would have been whipping himself to be more careful with me.

I went down to the fortress.

“It’s an honor to meet you, the Great Odin.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, the Great Odin.”

From that moment, all the gazes and voices directed at me were trembling. There were thousands of me, who had been shivering while facing the true form of Doom Kaos, here. Even if they harbored ill intentions, memories ingrained in the flesh couldn’t be helped.

There was a throne that had been waiting for its owner since it was created. Once seated, I waved my hand with a tired motion, and the commanding officer, who was chattering about the castle, hastily left. The huge doors began to cautiously close on both sides.

A message popped up in the darkness that filled the room with silence.

[You have entered Administrator Mode. (Privilege, System Administrator).]

Doom Kaos wouldn't have much to say about what I was going to do as he had neglected all of my demands.

***

The power was so vast and intense that it appeared infinite. I was certain that Doom Kaos had reached this point by steadily consuming all kinds of dimensions. The light pillar was the source of his strength.

However, the Old One was still an unknown, though I suspected it must somehow be related to the ‘Ancient Altar’ of Elsland, which even the Elf Queen couldn’t easily enter.

Anyway, Saint Dragorin was the final battlefield for Doom Kaos. For the Old One, it was the last fortress and the embodiment of its affection, and it had built it by putting everything into it. The power of the Old One was flowing everywhere here. It was in the air, and in every species that knew how to embrace that power.

I wished I could send the Awakened to the dimension of the Light Pillar, which Doom Kaos occupied, and secure the power. However, if I didn’t have the strength to operate the system, I just needed to steal the power of the Old One that was left here.

[The Moong (Privilege)

The Moong Tribe has perished, but the power left by their system the Old One still resides in the Moong Awakened.

Effect: You can recover some of the residual power whenever you eliminate a Moong Awakened.]

That was part of the Old One’s efforts to reclaim his power. The same applied to the trait, which changed its name from the Retriever to the Extractor.

The Moong Privilege was specialized for interpersonal characteristics targeting creatures, while the Extractor had characteristics specialized in aiming the objects. Among these, I decided to unleash the special ability of the Moong Privilege on the Awakened.

Nonetheless, the problem was that the current Awakened belonged to a faction ostracized by the Old One. If the Awakened absorbed the power of the Old One, known as Mana, it would act as poison to them. Therefore, a purification process, which turned it into the pure power of life by getting rid of the will of the Old One, was essential.

It didn’t matter for me, as I had reaped the fruits of my long research, but it was not the same for the ordinary Awakened. A medium was necessary for the Awakened.

[Creating the purification device ‘System Server.’]

If it was made from the transcendental material that made up the Ancient Shrine or the Dark Staircase, then it would have been different. However, it was merely composed of iron. The power that escaped didn’t even fluctuate in the status window that showed up to two decimal places.

The iron box was created as per the image I conceived. It materialized by occupying a large space next to the throne, and I could not hide my excitement. This was the realm of creation. It was one of the true abilities of a system administrator, which even Doom Kaos must have noticed.

***

[The purification device ‘System Server’ is not operating.]

[Please equip materials to serve as a medium.]

The materials needed to be powerful enough to wash away the will imbued in the Mana by the Old One, and they could not resonate with the Old One.

As I was working on the System, what I was waiting for arrived. While the Awakened were engaging the elven army, Olivia and her group had a separate mission. The situation had been well under control even in my absence.

Olivia presented the Great Green’s heart with both hands and said, “I, Olivia, am honored to meet you, Master Odin.”

She briefly reported the circumstances that allowed her to secure it. “It was thanks to the dragons’ combat skills suddenly deteriorating.”

“There is no need for modesty. You will be rewarded for your efforts soon.”

It was not just the dragon. When the will of the Great Green was swallowed by Doom Arukuda, not only the dragon skeletons but everything, including the part that was imbued in the heart, must have disappeared. Hence, there couldn't have been a better medium than the Great Green’s heart.

Its heart was nothing but a lump where powerful forces were concentrated. Of course, if I extracted it, it would immediately make me stronger, but I couldn’t just rip open the belly of the goose that laid golden eggs.

Olivia left.

[You have equipped the ‘Great Green’s Heart’ to the purification system ‘System Server.’]

Wooooong-!

Energy swirled around the iron box before disappearing.

[You can operate the purification device ‘System Server.’]

[Please set the transmission ratio.]

It was nine to one. Of course, nine for me, and one for the Awakened.

[* Transmission Ratio]

[System Administrator (Odin): 90%]

[System User (Awakened): 10%]

[* The purification device ‘System Server’ will operate as follows.]

[1. When the system user (Awakened) defeats a Dragorin species that uses Mana.

2. The Mana that was imbued in the Dragorin species will be recovered by the device.

3. Then, it will go through the purification process, and the power will be distributed according to the set ratio.

4. Ninety percent to the System Administrator (Odin), and ten percent to the System User (Awakened).]

One drawback was that this device couldn’t be installed on the mainland due to it being enveloped by Doom Kaos’s power. Nonetheless, it was perfect even now, but it was too early to rejoice. I had only completed preparations.

[Do you want to start the system?]

[* Currently, 142,239 system users are registered.]

Lastly, I threw a word toward the damned gaze that must have been still watching me.

“Please be aware that this is nothing more than a substitute for the Bone Ring. if you don’t permit it, then I will stop here.”

Doom Kaos had shown the ability to interfere when the Old One’s system was being created. Whether or not it could intervene in mine was unknown, but it was undeniably my top priority to keep in mind.

After a long silence, I decided to roll the dice.

“If you remain quiet… I will proceed. Your servant will bring you victory no matter what.”

Zap-!

[The System will prepare for the operation.]

[ 0%… 10%… 20%… 30%… 40%… 50%… 60%...]

I entered the Realm of the Ultimate and guarded against any possible interventions. The Old One seemed to have gone ahead even if Doom Kaos intervened, but I intended to halt immediately if I detected any such movement.

Would he intervene or not?

If he intervened this far, it meant he had really crossed the line and would be determined to abandon me. It was no different from pushing me to turn my back toward him and join the Old One’s faction. Especially since he knew I couldn’t afford to do that.

[ 70%…… 80%…… 90%……. ]

Would he do it or not?

[ 96%…… 97%…… 98%…… 99%……. ]

Perfect! From this moment on, almost all of the Mana of the dying Greenwood species would be mine.

[The System is operating.]

As soon as I slumped onto the throne, countless messages appeared, covering my entire view from the floor to the ceiling. I had no choice but to immediately turn off the notifications.

[You have gained XP.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have gained XP.]

…

I had completed the pipeline that would steadily bring power to me. However, I couldn’t just lie down.

Where should I go now?

I debated if I should leave this place to the diligent ants and head to the continent of the other species, or join the vanguard of the marching troops.

***

The System is back?

Jonathan felt a strong intuition. Something completely unexpected happened just when he was relieved after receiving the news of victory from outer space.

“Status window.”

[Name: Jonathan Hunter

Level: 530 (Challenger)]

As far as he knew, the System was almost like a curse that the Old One had placed on the Awakened.

[Status window information (Affiliation, Position) has been added.]

[Name: Jonathan Hunter

Level: 530 (Challenger)

Affiliation1: World Shadow Government, Jeonil Club

Position: Master of the Throne

Affiliation 2: World Awakened Association

Position: Director (Priest of Doom Man)]

Jonathan stared at the window with a stern expression. His face grew even graver when he saw the real name of the club. Even as he took out his phone, messages and windows, those ominous signs kept intruding into his view.

[Repeat Quest ‘Exterminate the Dragorin Species’ has occurred.]

[Collection Quest ‘Mana Stones’ has occurred.]

[Collection Quest ‘Spoils of War’ has occurred.]

However, it was strange. If this was actually the doing of the Old One, there was no reason to make the Awakened, whose growth had stopped, grow again.

[Mana Stone (Collection Quest)

Mana Stones can be retrieved from various places. The towers scattered throughout the Greenwood continent are especially a good choice as they use a large amount of high-quality Mana stones as an energy source.

Mission: Secure mana stones and bring them to the designated counter at the association.

Reward: (Rewards vary depending on the quantity and class of mana stones. Please check the detailed reward information.)]

Wait… I thought the content of the collection quest was already something that was carried out by the association.

The System was giving the Awakened a greater motivation through quests. A thought flashed through Jonathan’s mind suddenly.

Sun…he did this?