Listen while reading: Ancient Chevalry (And the whole album)
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And by strange, I meant many details I began to notice as I analyzed my surroundings silently. One of them was that the blue sky was interrumpted by constant cracks in space itself, which seemed to be slowly distorting this world’s energies and making them unstable. The second detail I noticed was that there were a lot of metal scraps spread out everywhere. Even over the sea, giant, destroyed mechanical structures were resting above the sea, covered in rust.
The third detail I noticed was that the floor was also strange, covered in many neon blue circuits. They released electromagnetic energies and fields and touching them would quickly electrocute me. These circuits led somewhere too; like countless roots, they were extracting energy from the world itself and sending it somewhere else.
And somewhere else must be that huge tree—a giant, silvery, and blue-colored tree growing in the middle of this rather large island. It stretched into the skies with its metallic branches, as high as it could, hundreds after hundreds of meters high. An enormous megastructure. And surrounding it were thousands of flying... mechanical drones? I couldn’t tell what they were.
This wasn’t a normal Murim Worldline at all. I don’t remember any Murim worldlines where the world was full of technological advancements. And this destruction everywhere already tells me that this wasn’t something that surged naturally in this world.
I am beginning to quickly realize that the Apocalypse of this Murim was not starred by random monsters but by something else, something mechanical...
However, by expanding my senses, I could still sense life—several life signals, in fact.
“Just what happened here?”
Ding!
[Welcome to the [Trial Dungeon: Mechanical Sea]
[Anywhere you look, there’s mechanical parts rusting away, decorating the beautiful blue sea with their littered parts everywhere.]
[Although you sensed Ki in this world, these mechanical pieces seem completely alien to you. This world underwent a great catastrophe.]
[Yet, like most of the Trial Dungeons you’ve visited, it's still holding on by a thread.]
[To begin your journey, move where you’ve sensed those life signals. You may need to hurry, though, as they’re not exactly doing really well on their own.]
[You’ll have to complete the Trial within 15 Days. If you cannot complete it within this time frame, you will be automatically expelled, but you can try again after 24 hours.]
[Time goes several times faster inside this Dungeon compared to the outside world.]
[Depending on your performance in completing the trials, a special Class, Subclass, and other Rewards will be given.]
Instead of three days like before, I was given fifteen days now. It seems this is really getting more serious now. Even though I’ve given a lot of time, this also means I need to do a lot. Let’s get moving immediately.
“{Summon Familiar}”
FLASH!
Suddenly, Violet, Snow, Shiro, and Fang Shuan appeared in front of me. Also, I was able to bring Goldie with ease on top of my head! It seems that I can bring Familiars now! I was restricted from doing everything on my own before, but I can even bring my friends here.
“I’m glad you guys are here! Fang Shuan, I’ll explain things to you as we move.” I said.
“Ah, sure. Although I can already guess some of it… This world feels both familiar and unfamiliar.” He looked around with his golden eyes. “Is this a Dungeon?”
“Technically called a Dungeon, but it is more of a… Ruined World, as I call them.” I said we had already begun sprinting through the jungle in front of us, which was oddly silent. Not a single bird or animal was left behind, but plants were mostly untouched.
“A Ruined World… So like a World that has gone through an Apocalypse, yet it remains?” He wondered. “How odd…”
“I’ve visited two already; the first one was already hopeless. I simply slain the last living being there, who had grown corrupted and sealed all his people with him on an eternal life as statues.” I said. “The second was much livelier; there were some people. I helped them, I saved them, and I slayed the evil that threatened their last hope for a better future. I did everything I could; I wonder how they’re doing now.”
“Incredible, and you’re given such missions out of nowhere? But… by whom, master?” He was shocked that I was gaining access to different worlds while still being in the First Awakening of my own world.
“I don’t know, but it's part of the System I received.” I explained. “Anyways, enough questions for now. Let’s move quickly. Gram, Sepa, are you two there?”
[“I am! But this damned world again! My Mana circuits are all sealed, so annoying!”]
“I don’t feel particularly annoyed myself; you thankfully restored a lot of Cosmic Energy, Anna.” Sepa said, appearing by my side as a small blue and gold-colored centipede.
“That Inner Core ended being really useful! With that and all the Ki I’ve forged so far; it shouldn’t be too hard to move around here.” I said. “And thanks to my Specialization, I can use Skills and Spells that would require Mana, replacing Mana with Ki.”
“You can do that?!” Sepa gasped.
“Yep, it’s part of the whole deal! But I'll not be doing it too much, after all, their cost is doubled when using Ki. I better use Martial Arts or just raw physical strength for most fights, if possible.” I sighed, leaping into the air to see my surroundings.
Aside from the lush jungle, I saw something to the northeast; there were walls made of wood and broken stone, and surrounding these walls was something entirely different. A barrier of sorts, conjured out of pure Immortal Ki Essence, arranged neatly into some sort of Spiritual Formation.
Inside of the walls, I saw Chinese-styled houses, most destroyed, but there were dots inside of the city running around, people! And there were a lot of people too.
The problem was that, surrounding the barrier, there were almost a hundred creatures. Mechanical monsters of all shapes and sizes—none of them looked uniformed, though—resembled aberrant chimerical creations made by a mad scientist.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Shit, this is bad; we have to get there quickly!” I said. “Alright everyone, I’ll summon you once I get there!”
Using my two wings and my Cloud Step Technique, I kicked the air and flew at lightning speed there, crossing at least fifty kilometers until finally landing right in front of the mechanical aberrations’ army.
BAAAM!
I arrived with a big entrance, hitting the ground loudly and sending a shockwave that destabilized the mechanical monsters, making them fall down. Once they stood back up, most of their neon-red eyes were glaring at me coldly.
[You have enraged a large pack of [Mechanical Chimeras (S- Rank)]!]
[The [Mechanical Chimeras (A Rank)] are charging their bodies with Electromagnetic Energies, readying themselves for battle!]
[All their Stats are increasing the more electricity courses through their bodies!]
S- Rank monsters! And almost a hundred of them!
“RAAAAH!”
With a loud and mechanical roar, a dozen of them charged towards me, their entire bodies overflowing with neon blue-colored electricity constantly erupting from them. The electricity boosted all their stats, making them stronger and faster.
“W-Who is that?!”
“I don’t know, but they just grabbed all the metal monster’s attention!”
“Oi, what are you doing?! Do you have a death wish?!”
I heard the screams of some people above the walls. Their appearances… were not human at all, but they were people without any doubt. They wore ancient and traditional Chinese robes, though, despite looking like humanoid beasts.
“Don’t worry! Let me show you the true might of the Disciple of the Heavenly Golden Dragon, dear friends!” I tried to show off a bit. In Murim Worldlines, it’s always important to show people your might right away, so they respect you.
Golden-colored Ki Essence flowed through my body, surging from both my Physique and my Inner Martial Core. It encompassed my body as the giant, metallic claws of the mechanical chimeras reached me. I received the attack head-on!
CLASH!
“What?! She’s unscathed!”
One of the guards kept talking, describing what had just happened. The giant claw that could have easily shredded someone to pieces did not do any do any damage to me, and it didn’t even hit my armor yet. It instead hit semi-transparent golden dragon scales covering my arms.
“{Celestial Golden Dragon’s Divine Scale Armor}”
This was one of the first Techniques that the Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist Martial Arts had. Yes, a fist martial art that included the projection of armor-like scales of Ki! Its name was quite deceiving, but this did more than just punch.
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[Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 3 (Core Martial Arts)]
[Comprehension Progress]: [37/100%]
A Divine Martial Arts designed by the one and only Heavenly Golden Dragon, the God of Murim’s Worldlines and also the creator of the Heavenly Dao. These Martial Arts Techniques have been specifically designed to absorb and transform any other Martial Technique into itself, the reason being that all Martial Arts derive from these techniques.
It can defend, evade, kick, punch, and even headbutt your foes. By utilizing the ancient techniques of the Golden Dragon, you can manipulate the Essence of Ki to its utmost potential and bring out its maximum power in each technique, dealing several times more damage than any other martial arts.
Only those chosen to become the disciples of the Heavenly Golden Dragon can ever wield these Martial Techniques.
Available Techniques:
Tier 1: [Celestial Golden Dragon’s Divine Scale Armor] [Heavenly Dragon’s Fist] [Golden Dragon’s Mighty Roar]
Tier 2: [Celestial Dragon’s Aura] [Golden Dragon’s Eyes]
Tier 3: [Golden Dragon’s Ki Blast] [Heavenly Dragon’s Steps]
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“Now, come! I have yet to show you even one percent of the strength of the Celestial Golden Dragon’s Fist Technique!”
“ROOAAAR!”
The metallic beast quickly sprinted towards me, attacking with furious swipes of their metallic claws, or even releasing powerful thunderbolts from their own bodies. I swiftly evaded using the {Heavenly Dragon’s Steps}, which gave me the ability to step anywhere and become incredibly light-footed. Evading like this was much more cost-effective than defending.
“For being S- Rank Monsters you sure are sluggish…” I sighed. “For now… {Heavenly Dragon’s Fist}!”
I imbued my hands with Celestial Energy and Ki, combining them together and unleashing a barrage of punches. Each fist connected into the mechanical beast’s incredibly tough body. Thanks to my black gauntlet equipment, I dealt even more damage with fist attacks. The monsters were quickly covered by countless cracks and holes in their bodies, my fists getting easily carved on them.
BAAM! BAAM! BAAM!
Their thunderbolt attacks were the only thing I was getting slightly worried about, but that was resolved once I summoned my Familiars here. Fang Shuan immediately joined the battle, smashing the thunderbolt-wielding mechanical beasts into pieces with his golden spear and his powerful kicks and fists.
Meanwhile, the rest of my familiars mostly kept themselves near me, using their physical strength to fight while I boosted their stats by using my Privilege Abilities on them. The guards glanced in utter disbelief as the mechanical chimeras were blown to pieces of scrap in less than ten minutes.
Yes, almost a hundred down, just like that! And even the fist I wasn’t wielding any gauntlets on was able to easily carve their mechanical skulls. I have grown ridiculously strong, and this was the proof! The EXP I earned was stored, and I also stored the mechanical chimera “carcasses” inside my Inventory for future use. Fang Shuan and Goldie gained a couple of levels though, so it was a nice grind.
“I-Is she an immortal cultivator?! Nobody else could do such a feat!”
“Impossible… No, but she looks like just a young, bald monkey girl!”
“Who are you calling a bald monkey girl?!” I complained. “Can I get inside, please? I did your job for free, mind you.”
The two guards looked at one another for a second and then nodded. The gates of the small city opened slowly as I realized I was able to trespass the barrier too, something I couldn’t before. Whoever was managing it has been watching me in silence and now allowed me to enter.
The first thing I saw once we entered with my party of Familiars were dozens of animal people wearing traditional Chinese clothes greeting us with curious and shocked faces.
“Who is she?”
“A monkey-kin?”
“She beat the scrap creatures singlehandedly!”
“She has a little army of monsters as well!”
“Woah, big sis, you’re so cool!”
There were all kinds of people here. From cow beast people to bulls, ducks, swans, crows, some lions, deer, and even rabbits and hamsters. There were no humans at all, though! I guess that’s why they don’t recognize me and call me a bald monkey girl.
Well, technically, aren’t humans just bald apes?
“A-Ah, hi… How are you, people?” I asked, greeting everyone by waving my hand. A group of guards then greeted me. They were either crows, hawks, or canaries, wearing armor and holding spears. They gazed at me with intimidating gazes, but then they bowed to me and kneeled in front of me.
“We greet the Great Immortal.”
“Ah… Ahem! There is no need to pay further respect. I’ve come from a faraway land, looking for people I could help in these trying times.” I said, playing along. “Can you bring me to your leader?”
“L-leader? Do you mean the esteemed Heavenly Empress?” Wondered the cute canary girl. “She has been meditating ever since the barrier started to fail to keep it up; I don’t think she’s…”
“Enough; if our Heavenly Empress allowed her to enter, it already means she wants to meet her.” Said the hawk man. “Let’s bring her there immediately. Please follow us, Esteemed Immortal.”
“Thank you.” I smiled. “Let’s go.” I told my party as we moved across the streets.
We had to climb an incredibly long staircase upwards, at least a hundred meters above the ground, where a single golden palace rested. It was completely empty, except for a single presence inside: someone sitting cross-legged, meditating, and expanding their power everywhere.
“Please go on, through that gate.” The bird soldiers said, without accompanying me further.
“Alright, can you guys stay behind? I’ll go alone.” I said, my Familiars agreed, staying right next to the door as I entered alone.
The doors gave off a loud creaking sound as I made my way inside. The beautifully decorated palace had many types of ancient Chinese-styled furniture, red carpet covering the floor, and golden curtains decorating the windows.
And a single person was sitting at the end of the long hall. Her appearance was almost angelic, covered by fluffy white feathers with a long black beak, and her delicate-looking head was decorated with red and golden paintings above her eyes, which she slowly opened, revealing golden irises and long eyelashes.
She wore white and golden-colored robes, her head decorated by a beautiful crown in the shape of a tree and a sun. Her gentle yet domineering eyes glanced into my very soul once they opened.
“Welcome to perhaps the last bastion of civilization in our ruined world.” She greeted me; her voice was gentle and melodic. “…Otherworldly visitor.”
Huh?!
[The [Heavenly Empress of Golden Skies: Hue Xian (Epic Rank)]’s [Heavenly Eyes] sees through your soul.]
She immediately knew I wasn’t from this world with a mere glance.
And the enormous pressure she released.
This was a true immortal—no, perhaps something beyond that.
Without counting the Constellations and the Administrators, this is the first time I have met someone at Epic Rank!
This is a true powerhouse.
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