The Perfect Monarch Battery
**The Mirror Dimension - South Korea Reflection**
The Mirror Dimension was a strange and beautiful place—a perfect reflection of reality, yet fundamentally different in its nature. It existed as a parallel layer over the normal world, like a sheet of glass placed atop a painting.
Everything from the prime reality was mirrored here: Seoul's towering skyscrapers, the Han River winding through the city, the mountains that ringed the metropolitan area. But in this dimension, all of it possessed an ethereal, crystalline quality.
The buildings weren't solid structures but geometric constructs that could be manipulated, folded, and reshaped at will by those who understood the dimension's rules. The sky held a perpetual twilight shimmer, colors shifting between purple and gold. Gravity itself was more of a suggestion than a law, and space could be bent, twisted, and reconfigured with the right knowledge.
It was the perfect workspace for projects that required absolute privacy and unlimited creative freedom.
And in a secluded section of this mirrored Seoul, standing in what would normally be a quiet park but was now an isolated pocket of crystalline emptiness, Ethan Carter stood with his hands on his waist, head tilted back, wearing the proud smile of an artist who had just completed his magnum opus.
"Perfection," he breathed with his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "This is absolute perfection."
Before him towered the result of one month of continuous experimentation, modification, and magical engineering.
Legia, Monarch of the Beginning and King of Giants—one of the oldest and most powerful beings in existence—had been transformed into something entirely new.
The Giant was still chained, massive restraints wrapping around his arms and legs, anchored to the crystalline ground through runic seals that pulsed with golden light.
But the chains were no longer the focus. They were merely insurance now, an additional layer of security for what Legia had become.
His body had been fundamentally altered—transmuted through magic, science, and cosmic understanding into something that straddled the line between living being and mystical artifact.
The most striking change was the hole in his chest—a perfectly circular void about two meters in diameter, positioned where his heart should have been. The edges of the opening didn't bleed or decay. Instead, they were lined with what appeared to be crystallized flesh, smooth and metallic.
From these edges, dozens of vein-like energy threads extended inward, pulsing with different colored lights—red, blue, green, gold—each one connected to complex runic structures carved into his internal anatomy.
His entire body was covered in runes. Not painted or tattooed, but carved directly into his stone-like flesh, each symbol glowing with active power.
The runes formed interconnected networks that spread across his arms, torso, legs, and neck—a living circuit board of magical programming that ensured his new function operated flawlessly.
Legia's eyes were hollow—literally empty sockets that stared blindly forward. But on his forehead, embedded directly into his skull, was a golden gem the size of a basketball.
Within the gem's depths, a red rune slowly rotated, pulsing in time with some unseen heartbeat. The gem cast shifting shadows across Legia's face, giving the illusion of expression to features that no longer possessed the capacity for independent thought.
Finally, around his massive neck, was a thick black collar. The material looked like obsidian fused with shadow, and dozens of blue runes covered its surface, rotating and reconfiguring constantly.
This was the enslavement spell—Ethan's own creation, reinforced with layer upon layer of enchantments, binding magic, and fail-safes to ensure that Legia would remain bound to Ethan's will for eternity.
'Finally,' Ethan thought, his smile widening as he studied his creation. 'One full month of continuous experiments. But it was worth every moment.'
Thanks to his earlier work with Tarnak, Ethan had already possessed a fundamental understanding of Monarch physiology—how their bodies were constructed, how their essence related to their physical form, what made them different from normal beings. That knowledge had reduced what might have been years of trial and error down to a single month of focused modification.
The design was elegant in its functionality.
The hole in Legia's chest served as the energy input port. Ethan could channel the ambient energy of whatever universe they occupied directly into that opening. The energy would flow through those vein-like threads into the network of runes carved throughout Legia's body.
Those internal runes would analyze the energy, break it down to its fundamental components, and store its unique signature in a specialized runic matrix engraved directly into Legia's brain—the golden gem on his forehead served as both the storage medium and the control interface.
When Ethan needed to use the stored energy, he would channel his own Genesis power into the input. His energy would act as the catalyst, flowing through the system and being converted into whichever universal energy signature he selected from the stored library. The converted energy would then output from Legia's mouth in massive, concentrated amounts.
'It's like a cosmic battery and energy converter combined,' Ethan mused, admiring the elegance of his design. 'Legia's body was perfect for this—sturdy enough to contain vast amounts of power, large enough to house all the necessary runic structures, and his status as a Monarch means he can interface with energy on a fundamental level.'
The enslavement collar was the insurance policy. In the astronomically unlikely event that Legia somehow found a way to resist or escape—though Ethan had taken nearly every conceivable factor into account during the modification process—the collar would activate, completely suppressing his will and reducing him to a mindless puppet.
But the collar's secondary function was far more insidious.
It continuously manipulated Legia's thoughts, what little remained of them. It rewrote neural patterns, adjusted emotional responses, and ensured absolute loyalty to Ethan.
The former King of Giants couldn't even conceive of escape anymore. The very thought was impossible, filtered out before it could fully form.
A perfect slave... A perfect battery and ultimately a perfect tool.
From somewhere within that modified body, a sound emerged—weak, broken, barely audible despite Legia's massive size.
"P-please..." The voice was hollow, echoing strangely from the empty eye sockets and the hole in his chest. "Kill... me... please... just... end this..."
Ethan's laughter rang out through the Mirror Dimension—genuine, delighted, completely without malice or cruelty. It was the laugh of someone who'd accomplished something they were genuinely proud of.
"Oh, Legia," he said, still chuckling as he wiped a tear of mirth from his eye. "You should feel honored! Do you understand what you've become? You're no longer just a Monarch—you're a cosmic artifact! A tool that will help me navigate the infinite multiverse!"
He walked closer, looking up at the giant's hollow face with something approaching fondness.
"Think about it," Ethan continued conversationally. "When you were sealed by the Rulers, you were still a prisoner—chained, yes, but you maintained your dignity. You could think, plan, hope for eventual escape. You were still you."
His smile took on a sharper edge. "But now? Now you serve a greater purpose. You're the key to multiversal travel, the solution to an energy problem I've been working on for quite some time. You should be proud of your contribution to the grand scheme of the multiverse!"
"Damn, I sound like some villain," he thought, then shook his head.
"Dignity..." Legia's broken voice whispered. "Prisoner... had... dignity... this... this is..."
"The ultimate humiliation?" Ethan finished helpfully. "Oh, absolutely. For a Monarch of your level to be reduced to this—a living battery with your very thoughts manipulated to ensure loyalty. You can't even properly hate me anymore, can you? The collar makes sure of that."
He patted one of Legia's massive, rune-covered fingers with genuine affection. "But don't worry. You'll get used to it. Actually, you won't have a choice—the mental conditioning will make sure you're perfectly content with your new existence within a few more days. Isn't that wonderful?"
Legia's response was something between a sob and a roar, distorted by his modified body into an inhuman sound of pure despair.
Ethan stepped back, raising both hands toward his creation. "Alright, time to put you away safely."
Magic circles materialized around Legia—dozens of them, rotating at different angles and speeds. Each circle spawned additional runic seals that flew forward like fireflies, attaching themselves to the Giant's body and the chains that bound him.
The air shimmered and folded as Ethan literally reshaped the Mirror Dimension's space.
A pocket dimension within a pocket dimension—a sealed vault where Legia would remain until needed, completely isolated from any external interference.
The crystalline ground opened like a flower, Legia's massive form slowly sinking into the newly created space.
More runes appeared, forming layers of barriers and seals—security measures upon security measures, ensuring that nothing and no one could access or damage Ethan's new creation.
Finally, with a gesture like closing a book, Ethan sealed the pocket completely. The ground returned to its smooth crystalline state, showing no evidence that a Monarch had been imprisoned beneath it.
"Sleep well, my little battery," Ethan murmured with a satisfied smile.
He reached up to his neck and unfastened the silver chain that held the Omni-Watch—the pocket watch that allowed him to travel between universes.
The device felt warm in his palm, pulsing with energy.
Ethan flipped it open, examining the watch face. The dial showed a reading he'd been hoping to see: 100% Charge.
"Perfect," he said softly while running his thumb over the watch's smooth surface. "Absolutely perfect."
The Omni-Watch was soul-bonded to him—a gift from ROB when he'd first been sent on this multiversal journey.
No one else could use it, and he could always sense its location no matter where it was. But the device required enormous amounts of energy to function, and that energy had to match the signature of the destination universe.
The longer he stayed in another universe, the faster that energy was depleted. Moreover, he couldn't use his own energy to charge it while outside his native universe.
Legia would solve that problem permanently. With him, Ethan could collect energy signatures from every universe he visited, store the coordinates within his Omni-Watch, and stockpile the energy in his living battery—allowing him to travel between worlds with far greater freedom.
Ethan waved his hand again, and the Mirror Dimension responded to his will. The crystalline Seoul around him dissolved and reformed, space folding and reconfiguring until an entirely different scene materialized before him.
A small, simple room. A single bed with clean white sheets. And on that bed, lying peacefully unconscious, was a man Ethan had placed here weeks ago for safekeeping.
Rudy Jones—better known in his home universe as Parasite, a villain from the DC Universe. Ethan had encountered him during his previous visit to that reality and had brought him along as a living battery, using him ever since.
'Poor guy,' Ethan thought without much real sympathy.
"I'll return you to your home soon, Mr. Jones," Ethan said aloud, even though the man couldn't hear him.
His expression grew thoughtful, almost nostalgic. "Maybe it's good to visit the DC Universe after this one. It's been a while since I've been back there. I wonder what my friends are up to these days."
But then he shook his head, his smile softening into something more genuine and warm.
"But right now, I want nothing more than to spend time with Anna and Jean."
The thought of his wives made everything else seem less important. It had been only a few hours in the outside world—time dilation in the Mirror Dimension meant that his month of work here had barely registered in normal reality.
But for Ethan personally, several subjective months had passed. Months of experiments, modifications, and relentless work with the Monarchs.
He'd earned a break.
'A few days off with my wives before taking down the other Monarchs,' he decided. 'They deserve my full attention, and honestly, I need to remember what I'm fighting for. It's not just about accumulating power or completing some cosmic checklist. It's about protecting the people I love and building the life I want with them.'
With a gesture both casual and filled with practiced skill, Ethan tore open a red portal. The other side showed his bedroom—warm lighting, comfortable furnishings, and the promise of rest and companionship.
He took one last look at the Mirror Dimension's crystalline landscape, at the sealed pocket where Legia now resided, at the unconscious Rudy Jones waiting to be returned home.
Then Ethan Carter stepped through the portal with a smile on his face, ready to rejoin the world of the living.
The portal sealed behind him with a soft whisper of displaced air, and the Mirror Dimension returned to its eternal, crystalline silence.
Deep beneath the surface, in a pocket sealed by hundreds of protective enchantments, a living battery that had once been a king continued its eternal vigil—waiting to be called upon to serve its new master's will.
.
.
.
**Five Days Later - Haeundae Beach, Busan**
Haeundae Beach was one of South Korea's most famous coastal destinations—a sweeping crescent of golden sand stretching nearly two kilometers along Busan's shoreline.
During peak season, it would be packed with hundreds of thousands of visitors: families building sandcastles, couples walking along the water's edge, surfers riding the waves, and vendors selling everything from grilled seafood to colorful beach toys.
The beach was framed by a stunning backdrop of modern high-rise hotels and apartments that gleamed in the sunlight, their glass facades reflecting the brilliant blue of the ocean.
Palm trees lined the boardwalk, swaying gently in the sea breeze. The water itself was crystal clear near the shore, gradually deepening into darker shades of turquoise and sapphire as it stretched toward the horizon.
But today, this paradise was completely empty.
No crowds and vendors. No noise beyond the gentle crash of waves and the cry of seagulls overhead.
The entire beach—all two kilometers of pristine coastline—had been rented out to a single party. Three people who had paid an astronomical sum for absolute privacy.
Near the center of the beach, three lounge chairs were arranged in a small cluster.
On the ground above the Sand-free beach mat lay Ethan Carter, the very picture of relaxation and contentment.
He wore simple black board shorts that showed off his athletic build—his six-pack abs clearly defined, his shoulders broad and muscular without being overly bulky. His blonde hair, usually styled with some care, was now charmingly tousled by the ocean breeze and slightly damp from an earlier swim.
Designer sunglasses perched on his nose, hiding his distinctive blue eyes but doing nothing to diminish his striking appearance.
But Ethan wasn't alone in his mat.
Anna lay across his lap, her body positioned sideways so she could rest her head against his chest while her legs dangled over the armrest.
She wore a stunning crimson bikini—the top was a classic triangle style with golden chain links, while the bottoms featured the same golden chain details along the sides.
Her long hair spilled over Ethan's arm like silk, and her fingers idly traced abstract patterns across his stomach, drawing invisible circles and spirals on his skin.
Ethan lay with his head pillowed in Jean's lap while she sat on the mat, leaning back against a pillow.
Jean wore an elegant emerald green bikini with a halter-neck top and high-waisted bottoms that accentuated her curves.
The color brought out the intensity of her eyes and complemented her lighter hair, which she'd tied back in a loose ponytail to keep it from blowing in the sea breeze.
Her hand moved through Ethan's blonde hair with a gentle, rhythmic stroking motion—fingers combing through the strands with obvious affection.
The three of them formed a perfect tableau of contentment, basking in the warm Korean sun with the sound of waves providing a soothing soundtrack.
'This is it,' Ethan thought with his eyes closed behind his sunglasses, a peaceful smile on his face. 'This is the ultimate life. Power, adventure, and multiversal travel are all well and good... but moments like this? This is what makes it all worthwhile.'
The past five days had been nothing short of perfect.
They'd visited nearly every famous honeymoon destination in South Korea—Nami Island's tree-lined paths, the traditional palaces of Seoul illuminated at night.
They'd explored hidden dating spots that locals recommended: quiet mountain temples, secluded hot springs, rooftop restaurants with stunning city views.
They'd even raided several dungeons alongside Cha Hae-In and Guild Master Choi Jong-In of the Hunters Guild.
Not for necessity or profit—Ethan had given all the loot to the guild—but simply for the fun of it.
The thrill of combat, the satisfaction of teamwork, the joy of showing off a bit while his wives laughed and rolled their eyes at his theatrical fighting style.
Jean and Anna had gone shopping for hunter equipment, fascinated by the magical items available in this world.
Ethan had happily paid for everything, trading mana stones he'd created through matter manipulation. The shop owners had been stunned by the quality and purity of the stones—far superior to anything typically found in dungeons.
'Being able to create any material just by understanding its atomic structure has definite advantages,' Ethan mused. 'I'm essentially rich in every universe I visit. Money is never a problem when you can literally make diamonds, gold, or perfectly pure mana stones on demand.'
But the days of adventure and sightseeing paled in comparison to the nights.
The nights belonged solely to the three of them.
Thanks to Ethan's Chronokinesis—his absolute control over temporal flow—what seemed like single nights in the outside world stretched into weeks within their bedroom. Time dilation meant they could indulge in each other's company for subjective weeks while only hours passed in reality.
And they had indulged... Thoroughly.
The "Midnight battles," as Ethan playfully called them, were intense and passionate affairs.
As usual, Ethan had completely dominated in every Midnight battle. Jean and Anna had been utterly at his mercy, and they'd loved every moment of it.
'They certainly seemed satisfied,' Ethan thought with a private smile, remembering Jean's dazed expression and Anna's contented exhaustion. 'Multiple times over.'
He felt Anna shift on his lap, her fingers still drawing those lazy circles on his stomach. Jean's hand continued its soothing motion through his hair.
The sun warmed his skin, the ocean breeze cooled it, and for these perfect moments, Ethan Carter had not a single care in the world.
After several minutes of peaceful silence, Anna stirred again. Her finger movements changed from aimless circles to more deliberate patterns, as if she were writing something on his skin.
"This is wonderful, Ethan dear," she murmured, her voice carrying a note of contentment but also something else—a hint of restlessness. "But when are you going to deal with the other Monarchs?"
She tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes visible even behind his sunglasses' reflection. A small pout formed on her lips. "I was getting bored while you finished off two Monarchs all by yourself. Where's my fun?"
Ethan had been completely honest with both Jean and Anna about the situation in this world. He'd explained the ancient war between Rulers and Monarchs, the threat they posed to humanity, his meeting and deal with Sung Il-Hwan.
He'd told them about killing Tarnak and Yogumunt, about extracting their essence cores, about his plans to eventually distribute those cores to his partners—turning them into beings with Monarch-level power.
He didn't mention anything about turning Legia into a battery, as he felt it wasn't necessary to tell them.
Both women had been surprised by the revelation, certainly. The idea of becoming something called a "Monarch" had seemed strange at first.
But they hadn't objected.
They'd understood immediately what Ethan was trying to do. The gap between their power levels was growing wider with each universe they visited, with each new ability Ethan acquired or developed.
Jean and Anna wanted to stand beside him as equals—or as close to equals as possible—rather than being protected and left behind during dangerous situations.
If becoming Monarchs would close that gap, they were willing to embrace it.
Jean's hand paused in its stroking of Ethan's hair. She leaned down slightly, her face coming into view above him with a warm smile that didn't quite hide her own interest in the topic.
"Anna has a point," Jean said softly, her fingers resuming their gentle motion. "When do we continue the hunt? I'd like to participate this time. Watching you fight is entertaining, but I want to test myself against these so-called Monarchs as well."
Ethan reached up with one hand to stroke Anna's hair, his fingers running through the silky strands with obvious affection. With his other hand, he reached back to touch Jean's stomach, his palm warm against her skin.
"Let's hunt them tomorrow," he said, his voice carrying that particular tone of someone making a firm but pleasant decision. "We're going to train some hunters this evening—I promised Choi Jong-In and Cha Hae-In we'd give their guild members some pointers. After that, we'll rest tonight, and tomorrow morning we'll begin the systematic elimination of the remaining Monarchs."
He grinned, "I'll make sure you both get plenty of action. We can split up and take them on individually, or work as a team—whatever sounds more entertaining."
Anna's expression brightened immediately, her earlier pout transforming into an excited smile. "Really? You promise?"
"I promise," Ethan confirmed, giving her hair an affectionate tug. "No more solo missions unless absolutely necessary. This is our honeymoon hunt, after all."
Jean laughed softly, the sound musical and filled with genuine amusement. "Only you would call hunting immortal god-like beings a 'honeymoon activity,' darling."
"Where's your sense of romance?" Ethan teased. "Nothing says 'I love you' quite like systematically dismantling ancient cosmic threats together as a family."
Their playful banter was interrupted by the sound of footsteps on sand.
A middle-aged man was approaching from the direction of the boardwalk, walking with measured, professional steps. He wore a crisp suit despite the beach setting—dark pants, white shirt, and a tie that he'd loosened slightly as a concession to the heat. His expression was carefully neutral, the face of someone accustomed to dealing with important people and maintaining composure in unusual situations.
This was Kang Taeshik, a senior inspector from the Korean Hunters Association. His job involved coordinating with various hunter guilds, managing dungeon access permits, and occasionally serving as a liaison for VIP hunters who required special accommodations.
Like, for instance, mysterious foreigners who had somehow convinced both Chief Woo Jin-Chul and Chairman Go Gun-Hee to grant them essentially unlimited authority and resources.
Kang Taeshik had been assigned to handle the... unusual requests of the Carter family. In the past five days, that had included in the following activities.
Arranging private access to A-rank dungeons, Coordinating equipment purchases from restricted vendors, Booking the entire Haeundae Beach for an unprecedented week-long rental, And generally ensuring these mysterious foreigners had everything they wanted, no questions asked.
He'd learned not to question orders from both the Chief and the Chairman simultaneously.
"Excuse me," Kang Taeshik called out as he approached, maintaining a respectful distance. "Mr. Carter? Mrs. Carters?"
He still couldn't understand how the hell this guy had managed to marry two beautiful women—but one more look at him told the answer. It was probably thanks to that annoyingly handsome face.
Ethan lifted one hand in a lazy wave, not bothering to sit up from his comfortable position. "That's us. What can we do for you, Inspector Kang?"
"I apologize for the interruption," Kang said with a slight bow—respect for powerful hunters was deeply ingrained in Korean culture. "But I wanted to inform you that your rental period for the beach expires in approximately two hours. If you wish to extend it for another day, I can make the arrangements immediately."
He paused, his expression remaining professional, but his eyes couldn't hide a flicker of curiosity as he observed the scene before him.
'These people are something else,' Kang thought, maintaining his neutral expression. 'They rented out the entire Haeundae Beach—one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country—during peak season. The cost alone would bankrupt most A-rank hunters.'
But the money wasn't what puzzled him most.
'Chief Woo treats them with something close to reverence. I've never seen him show that much respect to anyone except the Chairman. And Chairman Go himself personally instructed me to fulfill any request they made, regardless of how unusual or expensive.'
Kang's analytical mind ran through what little information he'd gathered about the Carter party.
They were clearly foreign, but their Korean was flawless. The blonde man, Ethan, had demonstrated casual power that made even S-rank hunters look nervous. The two women with him were beautiful enough to turn heads, but there was something in their eyes—a sharpness, a danger—that suggested they were far more than mere companions.
'And now they're just... sunbathing. As if they don't have a care in the world. As if the entire hunter community isn't buzzing with rumors about them.'
"Inspector Kang?" Ethan's voice drew him from his thoughts. "You still with us?"
Kang Taeshik blinked, realizing he'd been standing in silence for several seconds. Professional embarrassment colored his cheeks slightly.
"My apologies," he said quickly. "As I mentioned, your rental period—"
"—expires in two hours, right," Ethan finished with a friendly smile. He sat up slightly, causing Anna to adjust her position with a small sound of protest at being disturbed. "No need to extend it. We'll be heading out soon anyway. We have training sessions scheduled for this evening."
"Ah, yes," Kang nodded, grateful to be on familiar professional ground. "With the Hunters Guild. Guild Master Choi is very much looking forward to it. He's been quite... enthusiastic about the opportunity."
Ethan swung his legs off the Mat and stood, stretching languidly. His six-pack abs flexed with the movement, drawing an appreciative look from both Jean and Anna that didn't escape Kang's notice.
"Well, Inspector, thank you for the reminder," Ethan said, extending his hand for a shake. "Your efficiency and professionalism have been exemplary. Please pass our thanks to both Chief Woo and Chairman Go for accommodating our requests."
Kang shook the offered hand, noting the firm grip and the calluses that suggested combat experience. "It was my pleasure, Mr. Carter. If there's anything else the Association can do for you during your stay in Korea, please don't hesitate to contact me directly."
"We appreciate that. Actually..." He glanced at Jean and Anna, who both nodded slightly. "We may be calling on the Association's resources soon. We have some... extermination work to handle."
Kang's expression sharpened immediately, his professional instincts triggered. "What kind of targets? Are we talking about dungeon breaks? Monster outbreaks?"
"Something like that," Ethan said vaguely, his smile taking on a harder edge. "We'll coordinate with Chief Woo when the time comes. No need to worry about it today."
'More mysteries,' Kang thought with resignation.
"Understood," he said aloud, bowing again. "I'll await further instructions. Enjoy the rest of your time at the beach."
With that, Kang Taeshik turned and walked back toward the boardwalk, his mind already composing the report he'd need to file about this interaction.
Behind him, he heard Jean's laughter and Anna's playful complaint about having to pack up when they'd finally gotten comfortable.