Over fifteen months had passed since the hound extermination crew arrived in the Path of Chains, and the champions trapped in the ominous maze had faced an uncountable number of deaths. For many, the memory of a peaceful moment without death had become a distant and hazy recollection.
Zara had spent every waking moment torturing Thmaz to her full satisfaction, heedless of the barrage of attacks from surrounding monsters. Fi-Fi, along with a few other champions, continued to devise unique and simple methods to flee, fight, and avoid the titan and its numerous minions. However, their efforts proved futile against the overwhelming odds.
Slim, on the other hand, had become infamous among both the participating champions and those spectating from the makeshift town. All creatures, except the titan, avoided the perambulating necromancer who exuded copious amounts of baleful aura. Mournful echoes akin to whispers of dying souls accompanied the skeleton’s footsteps, emanating from a realm invisible to mortal eyes. Unlike before, the necromancer had ceased his random mutterings, replaced instead by the eerie whispers that had taken over.
Amidst the chaos, only Orion maintained a somewhat nonchalant demeanor. The mage no longer bothered to engage in combat with the monsters in the maze. Instead, he observed the trapped champions with keen interest. From his perspective, there was no better place to gather such unique amounts of data.
The current record had extended to seven minutes, but regardless of their efforts, no one could survive beyond that time.
One fateful day, a scream tore through the second layer, and all the spikes reverberated simultaneously before exploding. Once again, most champions accepted their deaths in the explosion, only to revive moments later as the toxic fumes in the area settled.
Zara and Thmaz found themselves revived next to each other once more. The canine instantly exploded into a crazed sprint, not daring to look over his shoulder as he fled. Subconsciously, he knew his actions were futile. After all, Zara had displayed superior speed, agility, and overall combat prowess. In the eyes of most champions, she was the incarnate of a war god, growing only more ruthlessly efficient as the battles progressed.
Contrary to the canine’s expectations, Zara didn’t chase after him, opting to remain in the same location for the first time. The bloody apparitions and arsenal that had accompanied her for months had disappeared, and her skin, which had exuded a burning hue, had returned to normal. Even the air, which had seemingly contended with her presence, had returned to normal too, but a lingering sense of mystic lingered around the brawler.
Sections of her hair slowly ruffled without wind, alternating between crimson and blonde. Despite not exuding an ounce of bloodlust, the surrounding champions felt a cold sensation crawl up their backs as they instantly distanced themselves from the area. Lysa, most especially, couldn’t hide her shock as she stared at the brawler. The vampire looked at her arms, which had been disfigured by thick strips, her blood running amok within her veins. She directed her gaze toward her companions, and they too had sturdy lattices of veins surging without control.
What’s going on? Lysa thought to herself as she further increased her distance. She watched as dozens of spikes rapidly disintegrated around a five-meter radius of the brawler.
Meanwhile, Orion wore a bright smile as he stared at the feline. “It’s finally happening,” he giggled as he stroked his chin. “Let’s see what it looks like,” he added.
Zara, on the other hand, blankly stared at the champions who avoided her.
What’s gotten into them? she pondered, but she didn’t put much thought into it. Instead, she focused on her arms, and then her legs, continuously scrutinizing her body. Something feels off, no, different… but I like it.
A thunderous footstep suddenly echoed, and most champions turned their attention toward the titan. The colossus had made a move. The champions within the area instantly fled, not wanting anything to do with the titanic killing machine.
Zara calmly lifted her head toward the gigantic monstrosity, locking gazes with the titan.
I’m not afraid, she thought, a strange sensation coursing through her, inexplicable yet unwavering.
Though she knew she was no match for the colossus, there wasn’t a hint of fear in her bones.
“I’m not afraid,” Zara whispered, her hair flailing as it rapidly alternated between crimson and blonde.
The titan roared as it raised its right hand, and a spike calmly descended.
“I’m not afraid,” Zara declared again, her voice carrying the authority of her conviction. Her hair completely turned crimson, and intricate, bloody markings slowly appeared on her skin.
The spike nestled in the titan’s hand, and it unleashed another furious bellow.
“I’m not afraid!” Zara unleashed a soul-churning roar, blood streaming from her eyes. Blood surged from her veins like a tidal wave, shredding through skin and seeping out through specific markings on her body.
The bloody wave wrapped around the feline, while hundreds of unique and sinister weapons formed above her head.
The titan threw the spike, and it appeared in front of Zara in a flash. At that same moment, the bloody wave manifested two gigantic hands. Zara readjusted her body, spinning in midair while the hands grabbed the spike, altering and returning it toward the titan with fury. The projectile raced toward the giant while unleashing a furious echo. Instantly, it smashed against the forehead of the killing machine, but not even a dent could be seen.
Rage distorted the features of the titan, and it unleashed a chilling roar. Every creature within the area froze, compelled to cover their ears in agony. Zara roared too, hers akin to the blood-curdling screams of a thousand wailing wraiths.
Simultaneously, the champion and titan exploded toward each other. The titan’s speed surpassed what many deemed possible, especially given its humongous size. In a blink, it arrived in front of Zara, unleashing a furious punch toward the feline. The fist landed before most could even blink, and a massive shockwave rocked the area. A reddish blur flew backward, crashing into hundreds of walls along the way. Champions and creatures along the path were instantly reduced to shredded corpses, while the walls barely remained standing.
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Silence hung in the air as champions spectating the battle watched with bated breath. Their eyes trailed toward the spot where Zara landed, finding her shielded within a massive bloody cocoon.
Cracks lined the surface of the multilayered cocoon, yet it remained intact despite the heavy damage. That Zara had not only survived but emerged unscathed infuriated the titan. It roared soundlessly, forcing champions and creatures alike to their knees as blood spewed from their openings.
Zara shuddered softly but remained unaffected by the roar. The blood coating her body trembled in tandem with ripples coursing through the cocoon.
The titan refocused its attention on the brawler, clenching its right hand into a fist. With lightning speed, it unleashed a series of devastating blows, each unleashing a blast toward the feline.
Before Zara could react, the first wave arrived, the distinct sound of breaking glass echoing as the cocoon shattered into pieces. The next wave followed, shattering the bloody armor coating Zara’s form, and then the next wave slammed her against the wall.
Blood poured from the brawler’s mouth like a leaking faucet, gruesome wounds lining her body. However, the defiance in her eyes remained unwavering.
Suddenly, the leaking blood flowed in reverse, racing back into Zara’s body, her wounds healing at a rapid rate. However, at that same moment, several spikes hurtled toward the feline at supersonic speed, instantly ending the champion's life.
The titan unleashed another furious roar as it scanned its surroundings. More than ninety-nine percent of the champions had died, leaving only one—the same mindless skeleton that had been prowling the area.
Seemingly more enraged than ever, the titan threw several projectiles at the clueless champion in quick succession. However, a mystical and unexpected event followed.
The spears visibly degraded as they approached Slim, turning into ash about twenty meters away from the skeleton.
The champions watching the chaos unfold sucked in fresh air, some involuntarily retreating. Even the titan remained motionless, a sense of curiosity evident in its bloodthirsty eyes.
Slim suddenly paused, eerie creaks escaping from his rigid figure as he turned his head toward the titan. The mist escaping from the necromancer’s skull had turned violet, and a hint of clarity had returned to the champion’s face.
Stretching forth his right hand, Slim emitted a ghoulish voice. “I suspend all laws within my domain!”
Melodious songs akin to a choir of deities echoed within the maze. However, the countenance of all those who heard the symphony darkened as an ominous sensation gripped their hearts.
An expansive barrier suddenly appeared, with Slim at the center of the domain. Simultaneously, the mystical lights signaling revival fled from the ominous area, leaving champions who had yet to revive as nothing but mere corpses. What’s more, the creatures trapped within the domain wailed with wanton abandon, slamming their heads and bodies on the ground as the melodious songs intensified.
As Slim took a step forward, deep fissures lined the ground. Baleful aura surged out in mass, forming an array of distorted, ethereal projections wailing in anguish. The ground, walls, corpses, and even weapons and debris visibly corroded.
Within the domain, hundreds of horrifying yet alluring projections manifested. The evolving skull above the necromancer quietly cowered in a corner, not daring to stare at the ghoulish army.
With another step forward, a deathly aura exploded, visibly corrupting everything within reach. The mist within the necromancer’s skull flared with a brilliant light, and hundreds of skeletons, including those of the slain champions and decomposing monsters, emerged.
The skeletal army forced themselves from their earthly binds, a violet hue burning in their empty sockets. Collectively, they roared, their cries amplified by the melodious songs. “Souls for the nether god, and Skulls for the skull throne!”
Once more, the earth trembled, and a massive skull throne brimming with nether manifested. Slim approached the throne in gentle steps before quietly taking his seat. The necromancer then turned his attention toward the titan.
“Destroy it,” he declared.
The skeletal soldiers roared in sync with the triumphant melodies being sung. The skull throne manifested dozens of legs and began to move. Simultaneously, portals opened around the necromancer, and apparitions from the NetherRealm charged into the space.
More enraged than ever, the titan clenched its fists, and space itself seemed to distort. It prepared to move, but a massive projectile carrying a sweet, coppery stench appeared in front of the creature. The titan casually brushed aside the weapon, turning its gaze toward its sender.
Zara, who had been revived, stood loosely as if being manipulated by strings like a puppet. However, above the brawler, a faceless entity comprised of churning blood hovered. Its wings spanned more than two hundred meters, while its form resembled that of the brawler, albeit a more grotesque variant. A tiny thread connected the entity to the dangling champion, and the multi-armed entity wielded diverse weapons, all originating from blood.
The thread linking the champion and the entity snapped, and the entity forcefully swallowed up Zara. It landed on the ground, its height just under half of the titan’s. Soundlessly, it roared before unleashing breakneck speed toward the colossus.
With Zara approaching from one side and Slim from the other, the titan unleashed a shrill scream as its muscles swelled several times over. It pounded the air menacingly, and a massive crack opened in spacetime.
The champions, who had been watching with bated breath, now stood with slackened jaws as they retreated even further. From their vantage point, they could see two other titans hidden behind the gradually expanding crack.
The Path of Chains has been modified due to the characteristics of the current participants! Parties, alliances, and groups will now need one of its members to survive for only one minute to be permitted entry to the third layer!
The system message echoed across the second layer, but no one paid it any mind. After all, even more titans were escaping through the crack. This time, there were five titans, accompanied by a horde of miniature titans exiting through the crack. Once again, the maze had expanded several times over to accommodate the new arrivals.
Orion erupted into laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. They had endured so much at the hands of just one titan, yet the maze had immediately adapted as soon as Zara attained her rule of absolute, and Slim activated his domain.
Meanwhile, Fi-Fi slithered across the ground like a worm, blackened tendrils binding the slime and directing its movement. Eventually, the slime reached a certain spot, and the tendrils released their hold. It slithered toward an unremarkable area marked by a blackened spot. With a soft shudder, the tendril launched itself at the spot.
As the newly arrived titans and their miniature minions prepared to wreak havoc once more, a massive shadow, thicker than tar and darker than darkness itself, suddenly enveloped the entirety of the maze’s floor.
Silence descended upon the maze, freezing all champions and creatures in place. All laws were suspended, domains repressed, and wills suppressed. Only the champions in the makeshift towns could move freely, yet even they stood petrified with fear, fearing their lives would end with any careless movement.
Amid the eerie silence, a ripple formed on a section of the ground, and an item slowly ascended from the tar-like shadows. All eyes fixated on the blackened war hammer, etched with intricate markings. The surrounding shadows seemed to churn as the weapon emerged. The watching champions couldn’t help but wonder what kind of calamity would present itself.
Of all the creatures and champions, only Orion displayed an excited expression. This is truly remarkable... The mage laughed heartily within himself. A mortal being escaping the nihilistic zone... it’s no longer an impossibility, he thought.