Island God: Going From Level 1 To World Ruler-Chapter 47: Midas’s Challenge (Episode 2)

Midas was confident. He stared at Sergalas, anticipating his answer as his heart pumped with suspense.

Despite this, he knew that if the serpent were to agree to his challenge, he would most definitely win.

During the days Midas and the goblin company spent building the decoy base and traveling to the Vineral mountain range, Midas continued using the Nine-Breath Circulation breathing technique.

He found he didn’t have much time to do so, since he was always busy or on the move.

However, he also realized during this time that when he previously achieved his first breath of the technique, he had actually mastered it.

This meant that he could perform the same, steady, and unwavering breath again and again.

However, doing this required immense concentration. Whenever he would fail the breath, it felt like all of his progress went down the drain.

As his attempts at the technique continued, Midas eventually found out another unique but quite interesting ability that he had learned.

If he inhaled a perfect first breath, he could hold it for far longer than a normal breath. The breath was perfectly aligned with the cells inside his body, the oxygen within getting used much more efficiently, and therefore allowing him to breathe for an extended period of time.

How long exactly? Well, Midas hadn’t found the limit as of yet.

"What do you say?" Midas asked once more, now at the edge of his seat in anticipation.

"Oh?" Sergalas replied, "That’s it? A breath-holding contest?" He said, slithering forward as a smile tugged at the edges of his maw, "How could the tiny lungs of a mere human hold more air than those of a mighty water drake!? Do you propose insult to me with this preposterous challenge!?" His voice tore through the air, flinging Midas’s hair back from his face.

"If you are so confident!" Midas said, cutting in between Sergalas just as the serpent finished speaking, "Why not accept the challenge!? Crocodiles alone can hold their breath for an hour or two... what’s a human in comparison?"

"Who’s to say you will be fair?" Sergalas replied, his nostrils flaring.

"I’ll take off the clothing on my torso. My lungs will be exposed, so you will see that I won’t use any outside help. You have my word. This will be a fair trial." Midas spoke with steely eyes. He meant what he said.

"Hmm..." Sergalas’s guttural voice resonated, "So be it... If you choose a path as pathetic as this, I will honor your death wish." He smiled.

’D-death wish!?’ Midas thought to himself in shock, ’Who mentioned that!? I guess he plans on killing me once he gets the information I lied about having... I guess it makes sense.’

Just then, Midas felt a cool breeze push past him and toward Sergalas.

Sergalas had his jaw open wide, his two fangs hooking out like massive scimitars and dripping with saliva. He began inhaling all the wind around him.

The force of his inhalation was enough to move Midas forward a few inches.

Gusts of wind fluttered past him, all getting absorbed into Sergalas’s mouth as if it were a black hole.

Seeing this, Midas didn’t waste any time and took off the leaf clothing and chitin armor on his torso. He sat in a meditative position right in front of Sergalas so the serpent could see him and closed his eyes.

Concentrating, he began to slowly inhale. He made sure the breath was flawless, not a single flicker or twitch in his esophagus.

The two contestants both closed their mouths at the same time.

Midas’s eyes flew open, locking with Sergalas’s.

Seeing this, Gool ran forward and arrived at the middle of the stage.

"F-fine! Since this is really happening, I guess I’ll be the referee! I’ll say when one exhales. Whoever lets go of their breath first loses!" He shouted with a shaky voice. He was still deathly afraid, but he decided to do all he could regardless.

If he was going to die right here, why not go out contributing to something?

And so, the contest between Midas and Sergalas began just like that.

Silence fell over the entire cavern, the two not moving an inch as they continued holding their breath.

Ten minutes passed as neither of the two looked to be struggling at all whatsoever.

’Hmm...’ Sergalas mused, ’As I thought... he is indeed a player. No normal human could hold their breath for this long. However... I can sense the power level within this boy. He is merely Vein Tier, as the humans call it. No matter what skill or technique he possesses, there is no possible chance he can defeat me.’

Midas sat with a stern expression, his eyes elegant and at total peace.

’Four... no, maybe it will take six hours. I have never held my breath for so long, but surely by then, even this monster will fall. All I need to do is maintain focus.’ Midas thought to himself, continuing to hold his breath.

An hour slowly passed. Gool walked back and forth with anticipation and worry, biting his nails.

He glanced between both contestants, praying Midas kept his calm demeanor.

Sergalas eventually started to become more suspicious, ’An hour... this is nothing for me, yet this pest does not seem to be wavering either.’ However, his confidence remained high.

As more time passed, he ignored the fact that Midas could hold his breath for so long. He didn’t care, as his pride took over.

’So be it... even if he has the skills to hold his breath for long, I am a creature of the water. An emperor of the sea. I will hold my breath until he crumbles.’ These were Sergalas’s last thoughts.

Two hours turned to four, and then into six. Nothing else but silence occurred in between.

’I will win.’ Midas fortified his mind, ’I will defeat this snake and make it bow.’ He declared inwardly.

This was a battle of egos now. Whoever won was going to be seen as more superior.

Both of them had already understood this.

Eventually, nine hours passed...