Past the gate, the warriors were shocked to find massive plains that stretched for dozens of miles. Thick dark clouds blotted out a ‘sky’ and filled the lands with choking deathly energy. As if spurred by the warriors’ life signatures, millions of bones scattered across the ground merged together, forming thousands upon thousands of undead that put the army outside to shame.
Kashi’s eyes twitched as he observed the growing mass. “Heh, I expected as much, but isn’t this too ridiculous?” However, he did not lose hope, and instead looked onto the horizon where twelve pillars consisting of evil purple-colored deathly mana connected the sky and ground.
Kashi turned to Sonic and Brilith, who also wore grave expressions as they warily watched the undead. “Do not bother clearing them out. You’ll just die. Just destroy the cores, and the next gate will appear. You can accomplish that much, right?”
Sonic revealed a slight smile. “There is no need for petty provocations. I do not intend on holding back here.” With those words, Sonic bent down and tore off a pair of ankle tapes. Boom! Everyone paled when the ground sunk from the sheer weight.
“Mm. Fifty percent should be enough.” Sonic stretched his legs, and then bent into a running start. “Breeze, break through with the rest. You guys take two pillars.” With those words, Sonic exploded towards the swarm of undead like a bullet from a rifle.
Kashi’s draconic eyes twinkled as he watched Sonic. As he suspected, Sonic was the fastest person he had come across. But it was more than that. “Such control.” Contrary to expectations, Sonic did not blow the undead out of his path. Instead, he weaved through their formations and attacks with such grace and ease that they might as well have been stood still.
“Fifty percent, he said.” Kashi looked at the tapes tight around his arms. “Hehe.”
Gentle Breeze, meanwhile, glanced at Kashi and said, “We’ll meet again soon. Goodluck.” He then brandished a short staff, and murmured a quick incantation. “ [ Gale Storm! ] ”
Vwooo! Harsh winds suddenly blew in from all directions and then smashed into the charging undead. “ [ Zephyr Wings! ] ” Gentle Breeze’s second spell, which manifested in the form of translucent azure wings buffed his teammates speed, allowing them to rush alongside the Gale Storm as it blew the opposition out of their path.
Brilith’s eyes grew sharp. It appeared Sonic would not be an easy opponent. However, she was not going to lose face by holding back. She flicked her wrist, scattering a few seeds onto the ground. Seconds later, gigantic tree trunks burst out of the ground and began smashing the incoming undead.
Brilith and her warriors jumped onto the tree trunks, which ‘opened’ up and swallowed them whole. Moments later, the tree trunks burrowed underground, and started charging toward the distant pillars. Only GrizzlyDiamond stood aboveground, riding the trunk as he smashed all opposition out of their path.
“Hehe, how efficient.” Kashi smiled. He was filled with high praises for both Brilith and Sonic. Both had found the most efficient methods to reach their pillars despite their small numbers. This was what it meant to be elite.
“Well then, I suppose it’s our turn?” Kashi grinned as he turned to look at the Maggots. First, Kashi shut down Syèl’s excited eyes, “You’re sitting this one out, Syèl. This place only has undead. You’ll run out of blood too quickly.”
Syèl scrunched his nose, but ultimately nodded. Indeed this was his one weakness. It seemed he was just cursed to view the undead with trepidation.
Kashi then glanced at Shokō. “You’re our greatest one-on-one weapon. I need you to conserve your energy, so you won’t lead this charge either.” Rather than drag it out any longer, Kashi grinned at Hektor. “How about it? Do you mind taking the first charge?”
Hektor stared at Kashi in shock, but Kashi was not done yet. The daeben summoned Drixlia from Orez, and then patted the kirin’s flank. “You’ll lead with Drixlia. Between the both of you, clearing a path should be easy as pie.”
“What? Why me?” Hektor’s fists trembled in excitement, but this was a huge task. If he messed up, he would tarnish the Hopeful Guild’s reputation! He could not understand why Kashi left such a heavy responsibility up to him.
Kashi smiled as if he did not sense Hektor’s unease. “Undead fear three things. Holy Energy, and the yang-attribute electricity and fire elements. Drixlia has lightning, and you have fire.” Kashi glanced at Hektor’s shoulder. He knew the Divine Dragon did not feel comfortable revealing itself yet, or else, with Hektor’s personality, he would have boasted to Kashi immediately he landed.
Kashi had no intention of forcing the dragon to reveal itself, but as its dragoon, Hektor did have the qualifications to lead the charge. “I’m sure you can infuse your weapons with fire, right? Then, you are the best choice to lead the charge.” Kashi pointed at the distant pillars and said, “Destroy those three. I’ll pick up the one at the edge after I check something out.”
“Kashi…” Hektor’s voice trembled as he clenched his fists.
“Haha. Since when were you such a softie.” Kashi chuckled as he lightly punched Hektor’s shoulder. “You survived hell. Now go show the world the future God of War.”
‘He remembered.’ Hektor’s shoulder hurt. It really hurt! The weight of Kashi’s belief were far more overwhelming than the young man ever thought possible. But at the same time, a heat surged through the young man’s veins. Excitement and thrill exploded in his red eyes as he looked at Kashi’s smile.
‘He believed in me.’ Hektor recalled when he foolishly ignored Kashi and stubbed his toe during a hectic battle. ‘Even though I was ignorant and stubborn.’ Hektor remembered his arrogance as he called Kashi a brat. ‘He gave me the strength to stand by his side.’ Kashi’s figure as he asked Rider to take Hektor flashed through Hektor’s mind, and he raised his hand. ‘Then, I will show him. I will show the world that Kashi’s spear is the sharpest. I will clear the way!’
BOOM! A thunderous, terrifying pressure overwhelmed the entire floor as a giant broadsword appeared in Hektor’s hand. The youth’s expression turned frigid as he jumped onto Drixlia’s back and pointed the sword ahead.
Far off, both Brilith and Sonic froze as they felt the terrifying pressure. What’s more, they knew this was not Kashi’s mana signature. What kind of monster?
Even the Maggots stared at Hektor in shock and awe. Shokō even needed to resist the urge to draw her sword. That was just how threatening the current Hektor felt.
However, unlike the rest, Kashi only wore a prideful smile. He waved at Hektor and Drixlia, and then said, “This is your stage. Go Wild!”
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Drixlia raised its legs and neighed as mana suddenly surged towards Hektor’s raised sword. Flames and electricity swirled around the blade, alternately scorching and frying the ground until Hektor swung ahead with a low grunt.
Brackle! Boom! A giant gorge several meters deep and three meters wide appeared for several miles. Hektor’s slash stunned the world into silence, but the man himself, only grimly nodded before he took off with Drixlia. Like a scene from Divine Tribulation, fire and lightning crashed and burned the undead everywhere they passed.
Shokō, Larsial and Syèl shook off their shock, and quickly chased after Hektor, swiftly eliminating any undead unlucky enough to enter their path. With their speed, they did not need to fear encirclement.
Kashi chuckled as he watched the three groups tearing their way through the undead. “As expected of elites. This doesn’t even count as test.” Kashi then turned to Zuri, who stayed behind. Her eyes held a bit of nervousness as she snuck glances at Kashi while nervously wringing her fingers.
Kashi tapped his chin and joked, “Heh, Did I suddenly become scary?” His smile warmed as he crouched, and then beckoned, “Come here, Zuri.”
Zuri’s eyes gleamed when she saw Kashi’s warm eyes and smile. She excitedly ran over and jumped into the daeben’s arms. “Kashi, Kashi! Zuri has so much to tell you! Zuri had the funnest adventures! Zuri even made a new friend!”
“Really? I can’t wait to hear everything.” Kashi stood up as Zuri clambered up to his neck like a monkey. He held her dangling legs to support her as he walked into the charging undead.
Shockingly, Kashi walked through the undead army like he was going for a stroll through his backyard. Undead collapsed to the ground around him, each unaware of just how they lost their heads. Unknown to them, a sharp blade revealed a glint within the shadows.
While Kashi took a stroll through the undead, Rider frowned as he ‘looked’ at Hektor. Oni Hills could not block the Seven’s eyes. They were similar to minor gods in that nothing could hide from them once they turned their attention to it.
“Why does that dragon feel familiar?” Rider was not too shocked that Hektor found a Divine Dragon. Sure, they were rare to the point of nigh-extinction, but he had witnessed even stranger miracles.
However, Rider was bothered because the dragon felt familiar. At his level, familiarity was not something he could just brush aside. There was definitely a reason that dragon felt familiar, but he could not place the reason.
Rider shook his head and chose to quiz Kashi and Hektor at the nearest opportunity.
Speaking of Hektor… “He has grown.” Rider could not recognize the red-haired monster breaking through the undead amid fire and lightning. His eyes narrowed as he observed the black broadsword. “It feels like I’m looking at a young Razznik. Is this a good or bad thing, I wonder?”
Rider glanced at Cathek. Several centuries had passed, but he could not understand the kafu’s motivations. Did Cathek worship or hate Razznik? It was not often he had a chance to speak with Cathek, so he chose to probe a little. “At this rate, those kids just might prevent Razznik’s summoning.”
“I wonder.” Cathek’s lips curled in an enigmatic smile. “That wouldn’t be so bad. The beautiful thing about chaos is that you can never prevent what’s going to happen.” Cathek then glanced at Alia who sat atop Oni Hill. ‘I wonder if this was how Razznik felt that day.’ “However, take care not to underestimate the children of chaos. It takes a special kind of strength to not get washed away by chaos’ tumultuous waves.”
“What nonsense are you spouting now!?” Zeing harrumphed as he glared at the dainty white kafu. He disliked Cathek from the first moment he laid eyes on him. He instinctively hated people with duplicitous faces.
“Nonsense you say.” Cathek lightly chuckled, seemingly not taking any offense from Zeing’s rebuke. “Perhaps it is but nonsense, forgive me.” Cathek briefly glanced at Bert, but he was predictably asleep with firmly shut eyes. Despite this, Cathek still asked, “What do you think, brother? Am I speaking nonsense?”
Bert retained his silence, causing Cathek’s smile to stiffen a little. However, he quickly regained his nonchalant demeanor and turned his attention to the bottom floor. His eyes gleamed as a certain daeben caught his eye. “Oh? It seems Kashi is up to something fun.”
Surprisingly, Bert stiffened and his eye cracked open ever-so-slightly.
Kashi frowned as he scratched his neck. He glared at the ‘sky’ as he complained, “I understand if you want to watch, but can you guys relax a little? It itches all over.” Moments later, the uneasy feeling drastically reduced and Kashi let out a short ‘thank you’ before turning his attention to the undead monsters around him.
Over the past ten minutes, he had walked deep into enemy territory. The enemies this deep in were much stronger, and were so many that even Zuri had joined in, helping Shadow to destroy the undead.
Kashi, meanwhile, calmly examined the ground amid the chaos and flying limbs. Eventually, his eyes sparkled when he saw an inscription. “Really. Nothing has changed from back then.” The daeben picked up a skeleton’s arm, and used it to brush aside the dust. He then wistfully gazed at the skull image engraved into the ground.
Razznik left behind presents for challengers on every floor. Unfortunately, ninenty-nine percent of challengers never found them. Well, it didn’t help that the hiding places were so inconspicuous.
“Well, it was his first time editing a dungeon. Game designers make it so easy when they hide stuff in games, but still leave clues anyone can find with enough patience.”
Kashi shook his head as scales covered his right arm. The death aura here was dangerous, so he did not dare touch it with his bare hand. The draconic arm should have been enough, but Kashi still coated his arm with dragon ki before punching the skull.
Crack! Vwoosh!
Kashi winced as tremendous dark mana burst out of the ground. The daeben, however, stood his ground as he reached into the head and pulled out something.
Strangely, the undead froze the moment Kashi grasped that ‘thing.’ The skeletons and Dullahans backed away, eye sockets quivering with fear and worship. Both Shadow and Zuri stared at the undead with confusion before turning to look at Kashi.
Kashi, meanwhile, opened his fist to reveal a clear purple orb about the size of a tennis ball. His lips curled in a wistful smile as he murmured, “Long time no see, Mau. Hope you enjoyed your rest. It’s time to pay back what you owe.” The daeben’s eyes shone with a malevolent, yet crafty glint as he studied the subsequent prompt.
Demon King’s Core
The ancient Demon King’s phylactery. As long as this core lives, the Demon King remains immortal and unkillable. The phylactery shows signs of previously critical damage, but has been repaired after consuming death mana over several centuries.
Optional Quest: Demon King’s Promise
You meet the requirements to activate the optional quest, Demon King’s Promise . Awaken the Demon King and help save its land from the invading humes.
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“Even in death, you never change.” Kashi chuckled as he recalled an undead in majestic regalia peering over the land without sunlight.
“Do the dead deserve to live?”
It was a question that resonated within Kashi until this day. “You can answer that yourself.” Kashi nonchalantly tossed the orb into Orez, and then turned his attention to the distant pillar.
Having fulfilled his objective, Kashi grinned as scales grew around his body and a pair of draconic wings broke out of his back. The fully-morphed draconian grabbed Shadow and Zuri, and then took off, leaving several stunned undead in their wake.