CHAPTER 72: RISE OF THE MONSTER KING

Together they defeated the Demon Lord’s generals. And still, the Demon Lord himself could not be killed. The hero gave his life in that battle, and only then was the Demon Lord sealed. Even then, the seal did not harm him, it merely bound him."

Nolan’s eyes narrowed as the pieces started to fit together. "No wonder the Fallen Archangel came to save Selvara... that demon who attacked me."

"So you were attacked by a fallen archangel and you met it. But why? What could be the reason?" Lyra asked.

"It didn’t come to kill me personally," Nolan said. "It came to kill a man named Cedric. But I know he’s already dead. He was one of the knights who fought against the Demon King. He suffered such a serious injury that he couldn’t return to the battlefield again. Now he just runs a shop."

"Wait a minute," Lyra frowned. "How do you know all this? Were you there?"

"Don’t forget, I am the Behemoth. Even when I was in the dungeon, there were specific people I was watching, and those were the ones who fought the Demon Lord. If I had joined them, maybe they would have won more easily. But against the Demon Lord alone, I would have lost. He carried both demonic power and the divine presence of a fallen archangel, two things that should never exist in one being. Even the Hero’s holy sword was useless, because the Demon Lord could wield it himself thanks to that divine presence."

Lyra shook her head in disbelief. "That shouldn’t be possible. Just how powerful was he? That must have been the toughest battle in history."

"It was," Nolan said grimly. "It happened just thirty years ago. Since the Demon King was sealed, civilization has had time to recover."

Lyra nodded. "That much is true. The world has grown more stable since then."

Nolan leaned forward. "But I think I understand the reason why the fallen archangel appeared. I’m sure it was either him or one of the Demon Generals who sent Savira to kill Cedric. And the fallen archangel sensed your power, Lyra. That’s why he came to the human realm, to save Savira."

"Not only that," Nolan continued, his voice lowering. "When I used my Time Stop ability against him, it only froze him for a second. He broke free even while everything else was still frozen. Even more terrifying, when he was midair, the world around him stopped, but he still moved."

Lyra’s eyes narrowed. "That’s because you’re not yet as strong as you’re supposed to be. When you reach at least level ten, your power won’t only stop or resume time, you’ll also be able to slow it down. Not just for the entire world, but even for a single person. That’s what you’ll need if you face an immortal being. A fallen archangel doesn’t die easily. Even if you cut them down, they may refuse death itself. But remember, an archangel has unlimited life, yet you have the power to manipulate time itself. You could force a fallen archangel to age by millions or even billions of years. Unlike the pure archangels, the fallen ones have lost their grace, and that makes them vulnerable to time. That is your true weapon."

"I hope what I’m saying is true. And if it is, then with my true power—time control, time manipulation—I should be able to do anything. I can stop time, resume it, end it, or even accelerate it so that it runs out. I should also be able to reverse time itself," Nolan said firmly.

"Yes," Lyra replied with certainty. "You are capable of all that. Anything that touches the concept of time lies within your reach. Even looking into someone’s past, or glimpsing their future—you will gain that power."

Nolan nodded slowly. "Yeah... but for now, I want to focus on building my own civilization of monsters. First, after I bring the goblins under control, I’ll head to the Empire. And when I’m done there, once I return, I’ll tame more powerful beasts. The King Minotaur I fought was far smarter than I expected. If I could tame him, it would be a huge gain. Even the orcs—I could bend them to my will too."

Lyra’s lips curled into a small smile as she listened, but she said nothing, letting Nolan’s vision take shape in the silence.

"I hope nothing bad happens in the Empire," Nolan said quietly.

"Don’t worry about that," Lyra replied with confidence. "No one in the Empire is capable of defeating you. Even the strongest adventurer S rank, would fall before your main weapon. You only need to stop time. Once you do that, you’ll be capable of anything, defeating any adventurer who stands against you."

"Yeah, I hope so," Nolan murmured.

"Well, that’s all for today," Lyra said. "I’ll be going to the mansion."

She turned away, walking toward the gates. At the entrance, she glanced back at Nolan for a moment, her eyes lingering on him, before she disappeared inside the vast mansion.

"So instead, I should focus on time," Nolan muttered to himself. "I already have other abilities, but there are still things I need to sharpen. In fist combat, I won’t lose to anyone. But first... I need a sword."

He stood up from the chair and walked into the mansion. The moment he stepped inside, a warm, delicious aroma drifted through the air. Nolan paused, sniffing lightly.

"What is this smell? Where is it coming from?" he wondered aloud, following the scent. It led him toward the kitchen.

"Is someone cooking in here?" Nolan asked as he pushed the door open.

Inside, Linda stood by the stove, wearing an apron. She turned quickly at the sound of his voice.

"Master!" Linda said with a bright smile.

Nolan’s expression shifted in surprise, his eyes softening. "Wow... you look beautiful. So beautiful." He stepped closer, his curiosity piqued. "What are you cooking?"

"I’m making a dish that’s famous in the elf village," Linda explained.

"That’s amazing," Nolan said, impressed. "But... where’s Celia?"