“Are you sure they’ll survive?” The Light Lord’s voice echoed softly in the dimly lit throne room, his gaze fixed on the flickering flame atop his staff. “Yes, sir. I’m certain. They seem strong,” replied Rad, the Rock Man, his face marked with a calm determination. “What if she shows up?” Rad paused, a shadow passing over his expression. “If she does, I’ll have to step in. They wouldn’t stand a chance against her—not even with their strength. She’s undefeated, her power unmatched. Sometimes I wonder how he managed to bring her under his control.” The Light Lord shook his head slowly, his eyes glinting with unease. “I doubt that even with you, we could defeat her. She’s simply… too unique.” “Then, if I’m to intervene, I’d better start heading out,” Rad replied, standing with a final nod. --- Meanwhile, on the vast plains, Lucin cast a wary glance at the barren landscape around them. “So, what’s the plan from here?” “We need to draw them out to us,” Vondrel replied, his
The air between the four fighters—Banny, Clinton, Lucin, and Vondrel—was thick with tension as they stood only a few meters apart, each sizing up their opponent. At the crater's edge, soldiers gathered, silent witnesses to what was about to unfold.Banny took a step forward, his gaze steady on Lucin. “My name is Banny. What’s yours?”Lucin didn’t break his stance. “I don’t need it.”Banny smirked, unfazed. “Isn’t it a bit rude not to introduce yourself to the one who’ll be punishing you for destroying our camp?”“Save the speeches,” Lucin replied, unamused.With a shrug, Banny turned to the soldiers above them. “I, Banny Gabal, stand here to bring justice to the intruders who damaged our camp and wasted our resources!”Lucin rolled his eyes, muttering, “So dramatic.”Ignoring Lucin’s jab, Banny gestured to Clinton, indicating for him to face Vondrel. Then he refocused his attention fully on Lucin. He pointed a hand at him. “Are we just going to stand here and stare?”Lucin’s smirk ret
Lucin narrowed his eyes. “It’s time to finish this.” With swift precision, he ran toward Banny, tightening his fiery whips. Two lashed around Banny’s legs, one coiled around his remaining arm, and the final whip encircled his neck. Banny strained against the bonds, grabbing for the nearest whip, but Lucin allowed no room for escape. With a surge of strength, Lucin slammed him down, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. Not letting up, Lucin lifted Banny again and hurled him against the dome’s walls. The walls cracked and crumbled with each collision, blood seeping from Banny’s mouth as Lucin swung him repeatedly, battering him without mercy. In one final motion, Lucin charged to the dome’s center, spinning Banny in a whirlwind, his body colliding with the ground in a brutal 360-degree arc. The momentum forced Banny’s impact to disturb even Vondrel and Clinton’s ongoing fight. With a final throw, Lucin flung Banny high into the air, flames erupting from his own body as
… Back to the Present … “I didn’t forget,” Vondrel said, catching his breath. “He’ll survive. He’ll just be out of action for a day or two. Don’t forget their regenerative trait.” He moved to sit beside Lucin, both taking a moment to gather their energy. They barely had a chance to rest, though, as they noticed the soldiers around them drawing their weapons, prepared to strike down anyone who had dared to take out their leaders. Suddenly, a streak of pink light burst towards them at incredible speed. “Boom!” An explosion rocked the area, and Vondrel and Lucin barely escaped its blast. Both leaped out of the way just in time, but neither escaped unscathed. “Damn!” Lucin grimaced, wincing in pain. “It went right through me! My whole body feels numb, even with my Ki shield up.” Vondrel had taken the brunt of the blast. On one knee, fists clenched, he fought to regain control. “My insides… they feel like they’re on fire. What was that?” “Are you alright?” Lucin asked, eyeing
Tamar chuckled, her eyes flashing with amusement. She pointed a finger at Vondrel, releasing a bolt of pink lightning. Instinctively, Vondrel stomped the ground, summoning an earthen wall to shield himself. But as the lightning struck, it didn’t shatter or even stop at the wall—it phased through, passing effortlessly and hitting him square in the chest. A jolt of electricity surged through his body, leaving his muscles numb and his movements sluggish. What kind of power is this? he thought, struggling to comprehend the strange energy weakening him so profoundly. His thoughts raced, trying to analyze the effect, but Tamar's mocking voice cut through. “Did you really think an earth wall would stop my lightning?” she taunted. But before she could press her advantage, a gleaming white and gold slash streaked toward her face. Tamar barely managed to dodge, jumping back just in time to avoid the strike. “Oh, so tricky,” she muttered, regaining her stance as Vondrel charged at her. His
Amidst his desperate struggle to break free from Tamar's unrelenting grip, Vondrel glanced toward Lucin. He hoped his ally was faring better, but his heart sank. Lucin was locked in a relentless battle with the storm of pink lightning. The more he destroyed them, the stronger they seemed to grow, as though they were alive and adapting. It wouldn’t take long before Lucin was overwhelmed. “I could kill you right now,” Tamar said, her voice laced with mockery, “but you still worry about your pal over there. Don’t fret. He’ll join you soon enough. But first, I’ll teach you not to annoy a beauty like me again.” Her grip on Vondrel’s neck tightened, and the crackling pink lightning surged through his body with even greater intensity. Pain racked every inch of his being, his muscles convulsing uncontrollably. His vision blurred, and his body screamed for release. --- (Acquisition begins. Everything comes with a price.) (1%, 2%, 5%, 8%, 20%...) (Stay under the effect of the lightning to
"Here it comes," Vondrel muttered as he braced himself, closing his eyes tightly.Lucin, standing nearby, saw the impending danger and attempted to intervene, but a barrage of dark pink lightning bolts surged toward him with intensified ferocity, keeping him at bay. The crackling bolts illuminated the darkened skies before crashing into Vondrel's position. A deafening explosion erupted, sending shockwaves rippling outward and obliterating everything within the vicinity.As the lightning struck Vondrel, the temporal protective garment shielding him disintegrated in an instant, along with all the summoned energies and auras surrounding him. His defenses shattered, leaving him entirely exposed. Vondrel's eyes shot open in shock, and an agonizing scream tore from his throat."AHHHHHH!" His voice echoed through the chaos as his body convulsed violently under the relentless assault. The once impenetrable skin that marked his resilience began to sear and crack under the bolts’ scorching inte
Rad pursued Tamar with relentless determination, his every step sending tremors through the ground. As he stomped, chunks of earth surged beneath him, propelling him forward. With his massive axe in hand, he closed the gap and swung downward, aiming to crush her. Tamar sidestepped the blow with ease, her movements fluid and precise. Rad wasted no time. Before she could counter, jagged spikes erupted from the ground, shooting at her from all angles. The barrage was relentless, leaving her no room to rest. Tamar’s reflexes were remarkable, her lithe form twisting and turning to avoid the deadly spikes. But her challenge multiplied as Lucin joined the assault. From a distance, Lucin launched fireballs, fiery bombs, and blazing whips that arced through the air. The combined assault forced Tamar to split her focus, dodging the spikes while deflecting the fire attacks. Rad seized the opportunity, clenching his twin axes together. With a low growl, he forced the weapons to fuse, their
As Noah pressed on, the oppressive heat of the volcanic terrain began to shift. The air grew cooler, and a sharp, cutting wind howled through the landscape. The ground beneath him was now a mix of hardened lava and jagged stone, and his fire magic felt sluggish, the gusts sapping the energy from his flames. "Perfect," Noah muttered, wrapping his arms around himself against the biting wind. He pressed forward cautiously, his eyes scanning for any sign of danger. It wasn’t long before the sky above darkened, and the shrill cries of creatures pierced the air. Four massive sparrows, each the size of a small house, descended from the turbulent sky. Their feathers shimmered like polished obsidian, and their beaks glowed faintly with fiery embers. The sparrows circled him like vultures, their keen eyes locking onto him as they dove in turns. Noah barely managed to dodge the first strike, the force of the bird's claws gouging deep trenches into the ground. He retaliated with a blast o
The Shifting Inferno Noah’s boots crunched against the rocky terrain as he stepped into the ominous expanse of The Shifting Inferno. The air was heavy with ash and heat, the sky an eerie crimson streaked with black clouds. The ground beneath him radiated warmth, a forewarning of the volatile nature of the terrain. A faint rumble echoed through the ground, a precursor of what lay ahead. "This place feels alive," Noah muttered under his breath, his voice laced with unease. Despite his nerves, his determination remained steadfast. He clenched his fists, the faint warmth of his own fire sparking in his palms. The landscape before him was ever-changing. Magma Rivers snaked unpredictably across the ground, forming natural obstacles. Occasionally, the land would tremble violently, splitting apart to reveal glowing fissures that belched smoke and flames. Noah quickly realized that standing still was not an option. As he moved forward, he began to map the patterns in the shifting terra
In a dimly lit room, four figures stood at attention, their postures tense and their gazes fixed on the dominatingly beautiful woman seated before them. She radiated an aura of authority, her piercing eyes scanning each of them in turn. Her voice, calm yet commanding, broke the silence. “I have a mission for the four of you,” she began, her words deliberate. She paused, her gaze flickering across their uncertain faces. “You will receive no heads-up about the mission. No details. Just know this: the outcome is entirely up to you.” The group exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared speak. “Abbie,” a deep voice interrupted. The speaker was Stelio, with his mechanical arm that gleamed in the dim light. He stood beside her, his expression stern. “Don’t you think you should at least brief them? Give them some kind of hint?” Abbie turned her head slightly, one elegant eyebrow arched. “Anything, Stelio?” “I’m just saying,” he replied evenly, “sending them in blind feels reckless. At
Miss Abbie leaned back in her chair, her sharp gaze fixed on the four young men standing before her. Their account of their mission had been detailed, recounting their encounter with a raccoon-type beast at the Hyper tier and a snail beast at the Sidon tier. The crystals harvested from the creatures now lay on the table, their faint glow casting eerie reflections on the walls of the dimly lit room. “So,” she began, her voice calm but with an edge of coldness, “you claim to have successfully taken down a Sidon-tier beast.” “Yes, ma’am,” one of the young men replied, his voice steady, though a flicker of unease crossed his face. Miss Abbie’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze swept over them, sharp enough to cut through steel. “Impressive. I hope you understand what such accomplishments mean—and what they demand from you moving forward.” Stelio, sitting nearby with his arms crossed, offered a wide grin. “They’ve grown a lot, Abbie. Look at them—young, capable, and now stron
The beautiful woman gazed at Vondrel with an enigmatic smile, her delicate hand extended toward him. "Let me have your blades," she said, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of authority. Vondrel hesitated but eventually complied with the woman's request. These twin blades were his most trusted companions, their power familiar yet mysterious. He couldn’t help but feel wary, but the lack of hostility in her aura made him reconsider. Finally, he nodded, summoning the Kyokai into his hands. The moment they appeared, the air grew heavy with their presence, the sharp hum of latent energy filling the space, the blades shimmered faintly, their edges pulsating with an enigmatic light.. He handed the blades over, watching as she grasped them with an almost reverent touch. “These are extraordinary,” she murmured, her delicate fingers brushing the hilts of the twin swords. Her touch seemed to awaken something within the weapons, as subtle ripples of energy coursed along their length. Ho
After narrating the origins of the Gohu race to Vondrel, the woman clasped her slender hands together, her bright smile radiating warmth and confidence. “Now that you know a part of our history, it’s time to make you the perfect ruler of the entire race,” she declared. “I still don’t understand,” Vondrel muttered, his tone a mix of hesitation and doubt. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze gentle yet questioning. “What is it that you don’t understand?” she asked. Vondrel sighed and continued. “If I were to piece this together, it’s clear there are others more suitable than me. Surely, you have candidates within your race who would be better choices.” He turned to face her fully, his tone firmer. “Besides, I’m not even one of you. I come from another race entirely.” Her smile softened, though her gaze remained unwavering. “You’re not wrong. There have been other candidates, and perhaps there are still others more suitable out there,” she admitted. Then, stepping closer to him, he
“Drink,” she offered, raising her own cup. Vondrel hesitated, watching as she took a long, deliberate sip. Then, cautiously, he brought the cup to his lips. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, his senses lit up. The initial taste was a harmonious blend of sweet and tangy, reminiscent of the juiciest summer fruit. A warmth followed, spreading through his body like liquid sunlight, soothing his battered muscles and clearing his mind. Beneath the sweetness was a subtle, smoky complexity, paired with a cooling herbal finish that lingered on his palate. It wasn’t just a drink; it was an experience. “What is this?” he asked, his voice almost reverent. “A gift of the ancients,” she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “An elixir crafted from celestial fruits and the purest springs of the earth. It revitalizes the body and mind, a rare treasure.” Vondrel took another sip, savoring the taste. For a moment, he forgot his fatigue, lost in the drink’s unparalleled flavor. “This i
As Vondrel was whisked away from the suffocating darkness, a refreshing sensation coursed through his body, leaving him standing in an ancient throne room that seemed untouched by time. The space exuded a sense of grandeur and authority, the kind that demanded reverence from anyone who dared enter. Intricate patterns and carvings adorned the walls, depicting swirling wyverns and fierce battles from eras long past. The air itself felt heavy with power, carrying a faint, almost melodic hum that resonated through the chamber. The centerpiece of the room was an imposing throne set upon a raised dais, commanding attention as if it were the heart of the realm. The throne was carved from a shimmering obsidian-like stone, its surface interwoven with veins of glowing blue that pulsed faintly, reminiscent of a heartbeat. Its design was both elegant and brutal, with sharp edges and fluid curves blending seamlessly. Behind the throne loomed a towering wyvern carved from the same stone, its wings
Lucin’s unconscious body was encased in a floating, translucent sphere, suspended in stasis. Meanwhile, Vondrel found himself plunged into an endlessly warping dark void. The shifting space felt strangely familiar, triggering an unsettling sense of déjà vu. “Just show yourself already,” Vondrel growled, his voice heavy with irritation. “I don’t have time for this.” He waited, standing in the disorienting expanse, his patience wearing thin. Despite his heightened senses, there was no response—no movement, no energy signature, just the ceaseless warping of space. Vondrel clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him. Is this some kind of endurance test? he wondered, his thoughts brimming with exasperation. Why does this feel exactly like the chaos I experienced during my transmigration? Can't they give me a break? Glancing down at his bruised, battered body, Vondrel grimaced. His usually rapid healing had slowed, his strength visibly waning. He heaved a weary sigh, realizi