The battlefield was silent, the tension finally dissipating as everyone let out breaths they didn’t realize they were holding. The storm clouds above cleared, revealing the crimson hues of dusk. The only sounds were the faint crackling of residual lightning and the groans of the injured."Did she really leave us alone just because of him? And what was that message she mentioned?" Rad muttered under his breath, his gaze shifting to Vondrel, who stood at the epicenter of it all."I guess someone has finally managed to get on the good side of that dangerous beauty," Lucin quipped with a wry smile, casting a sidelong glance at Vondrel.But Vondrel didn’t respond. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, utterly spent. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his body drenched in sweat. Lucin, too, sank to the floor, leaning back against a shattered rock as he stared up at the now-clear sky.Rad, however, remained standing, his piercing gaze fixed on Vondrel. The weight of his unspoken
The harsh wind howled across the endless expanse of sand, grains swirling in chaotic patterns. Four figures trudged onward, their forms battered and smeared with dust and the dark blood of beasts they had fought. Every step felt heavier than the last, the blazing sun overhead casting wavering heat mirages across the sandy wasteland. “The closer we get to the hyper-tier snail, the fiercer and more coordinated these beasts become,” Timmy said, his voice tinged with both awe and exhaustion. “And let’s not forget, none of these creatures even come close to the snail in terms of tier or power,” added Noah grimly. “What annoys me the most is their teamwork. It’s as if they have a collective consciousness,” Sam muttered, his voice low. Their conversation lapsed into silence as the group pressed forward, the crunch of their boots on sand the only sound. After a while, Sam broke the silence, his tone cautious. “Can we really defeat a hyper-tier beast if it comes to it?” The words h
The sandy terrain of planet Satum was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the wind and the distant echo of defeated beasts fading into nothingness.“We’re here to hunt, remember?” Timmy reminded, breaking the silence. “We find the king beast, get the exact description and location, and head back.”“Yeah, yeah, we know the drill,” Sam muttered, crouching to collect a beast crystal from one of the defeated creatures.James wiped sweat from his brow and straightened up. “I’ve already seen it,” he said, his voice brimming with confidence.The others turned toward him. “Seen what?” they asked in unison.“The snail. It’s a few kilometers from here,” James responded nonchalantly, pointing in the distance.“Take the T-Cam and zoom in on it. Let’s confirm it and then leave,” Noah suggested, glancing at the horizon.James grabbed the T-Cam, a sleek, handheld device capable of magnifying distant objects with remarkable clarity. He adjusted its settings and focused on the massive figu
James, in desperation, hurled every crystal he had into the glowing formation. Even the rare gilberk-tier crystals were offered up, but the insatiable formation greedily consumed them without any sign of stopping. He clenched his fists, frustration etching lines on his face. The others stood watching, hesitant but unwilling to let him bear the burden alone. Sam, rolling his eyes but stepping forward nonetheless, broke the silence. "Even though I’d love to punch that smug face of yours, you’re still my brother. Guess I’ll help," he muttered, tossing his own stash of crystals into the formation. The others, spurred by Sam’s reluctant generosity, began to empty their own collections. One by one, they offered up their reserves. Crystals glowed and dissolved into the formation, feeding its ravenous energy. The ground trembled faintly as the magic surged, yet the formation remained unfulfilled. Every last crystal had been consumed, leaving them at a loss. “It’s still not enough,” Jam
The surrounding beasts wasted no time, springing into action the moment they locked eyes on the humans. A cacophony of growls, snarls, and thunderous footfalls filled the air as the creatures charged with frightening coordination. James reacted swiftly, summoning his ethereal beasts—two spectral wolves that materialized by his side, their glowing forms snarling in unison. His spear shimmered into existence, a manifestation of his weaponized energy. The others followed suit, unleashing their own abilities in a desperate attempt to hold the onslaught at bay.Sam hurled explosive energy projectiles that erupted into waves of concussive force upon impact, scattering smaller beasts in a fiery display. Noah’s twin blades shimmered with a golden light, each slash leaving arcs of burning energy in its wake. Timmy conjured streams of water that coalesced into sharp whips, cutting down the agile predators that lunged at him.Despite their efforts, the wave of beasts seemed endless. Each time on
"The further we go, the harder it becomes," Lucin muttered, his voice heavy with exertion. He wrenched his long sword free from the carcass of a beast, its blood sizzling off the blade in the humid air. The battlefield lay in silence, the only sounds those of distant winds and the occasional rustle of leaves. "I think this place is clear. We should move on to the next phase now," he said, glancing around as he cleaned his blade. When no response came, he furrowed his brow but moved forward regardless. Just as he took his next step, the ground trembled. A shimmering portal tore open in the air before him, releasing an overwhelming, swirling force. The pull was immediate and fierce, like the hands of a storm clawing at his body. His boots scraped against the earth as he struggled to maintain his footing. "We have to get out of this place right now!" he bellowed, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind. He turned to his companion—but something darted past him in a blur. Lucin
The clash of steel echoed through the air, accompanied by the resounding boom of explosions in a remote, desolate land. The atmosphere rippled with waves of distortion, the chaotic energy seemingly tearing the world apart. “If we keep this up, we’ll burn out, and that will be the end of us,” Lucin shouted, his voice straining to rise above the chaos. Relentlessly, he attacked, focusing on the hydra’s heads, but finding no opening. The beast’s relentless assault left him frustrated. “Cut this head off already—it’s driving me mad!” Vondrel shouted, dodging the bladed appendage of one of the hydra’s heads as it lashed out at him with lightning speed. Its attacks allowed him no moment to breathe or plan his next move. “Stop complaining and make an opening for me!” Lucin retorted, irritation creeping into his voice. Vondrel darted to the creature’s side, closing the distance quickly. The hydra’s bladed head tracked him, swinging with deadly precision, aiming to bisect him. Forced
Lucin stood in the vast, white expanse, a blank canvas that seemed to stretch into eternity. His mind churned with questions as he examined his surroundings. “The last time I was in a place like this was when I entered the ancestral door,” he muttered, scanning the area with narrowed eyes. The stillness of the space only amplified the flood of thoughts rushing through his mind. Is this finally my way out of the separate dimension? Am I about to see the outside world? What does it look like? Will I finally reunite with my brother and family? A smile briefly softened his face, hope flickering like a fragile flame. But before he could savor the moment, he sensed something. His instincts kicked in, and he dropped into a crouch just as a fireball zipped over his head, its heat brushing past him. “What the…” he muttered, rolling to the side to create distance. Rising cautiously, his eyes darted around. “I thought this was a passage home. What is this?” His expression darkened as
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