A minute passed by and a third of the players were left standing.

“Would you look at that! We’ve got some brave warriors here,” Zyrus praised the players in a mocking tone as he walked towards them.

None of the remaining players moved a muscle. They knew that without them, the monster wouldn’t have another crown.

However, they had overclocked a very crucial detail.

“What a pity, I don’t need brave warriors. I need soldiers who obey my commands.”

“You’re strong, but do you think you can enslave us by force?” the youth from before spoke in a defiant tone.

“Do you think I’d allow you to incite others?” Zyrus scoffed after throwing out his spear.

*WHIISH*

“kuh-”

-200

Exp +400

“Tch tch.. I don’t care about your dignity. From the moment you lost, your lives belong to me and me alone.” Zyrus stated the cruel truth while glaring at the remaining players.

He didn’t care about their reactions. His goal was to subdue them by force, and he would achieve that by any means possible.

*ROOAR*

Zyrus growled at the hundred goblin riders who were standing at the camp’s periphery.

“Kikiki”

“Awooo”

They didn’t need any more instructions. In the span of a couple breaths, they surrounded the players who had refused to surrender.

“What do you-”

“Kill them all.” Zyrus commanded in a cold tone.

It was an extreme method, but it had its advantages. The sanctuary treated humans and monsters in the same way.

Both can level up and get rewards by killing other species. From a neutral perspective, leveling up a squad of goblin riders would be much more helpful than some opportunistic players.

*Awoooo*

As per Zyrus’s order, the majority of the players were eaten by the wolves. Despite them being ordinary beasts akin to cats and dogs, they had a chance to be recognized as monsters after killing others.

It was a hidden function that players would only find out in the third ring.

Uninterested in the ongoing slaughter, Zyrus leaned on a nearby tree and looked at the talent screen.

[You have met the necessary requirement to activate the special ability]

[You can obtain one of the Goblin’s special traits]

[Obtained traits: 0/10]

Note: This ability can be used once every 20 levels.

Note: The traits will be granted at random and they will be modified to suit your race.

Note: The obtained traits can be developed further via race evolution.

He was skeptical about using the talent. On one hand, he was curious about its usage but on the flip side, he could get something useless like goblins reproduction trait.

“I’d advise you against using it.”

“Look who’s here,” Zyrus raised a brow at Aurora who popped out of nowhere.

“Cheh.. it isn’t the time for your snide remarks. I’m here on important business,” she replied with a proud face.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Did they catch on to you?”

“Humph! What do you take me as? As if those old bastards would catch me.”

“What’s so important then?”

“It’s about the cube,”

“About time we talk about it.” Zyrus grinned and he took out the cube from his leather waistband.

“By the way, did you like the clothes I gave you?”

“You mean these leather rags?”

“What? You want something better? As if that would make you less ugly,”

“Go on, you wanted to say that from the beginning, didn’t you?”

“Wow! I’ve never thought that a lizard would be this smart.”

“That’s racist. Besides, I’m a Sylvarix”

“Same thing,” Aurora replied with a mischievous grin. She knew that Zyrus had to keep up with her not-so-pleasant remarks if he wanted to know about the cube, and she wasn’t going to waste such a heaven-sent opportunity to bully him.

“You done now? Spill it,”

“You’re no fun.”

“…”

“Fine, I’ll tell you. You should go back right now.” Aurora spoke in a grave tone.

“Did something happen on earth?”

Zyrus was surprised at her changed expression. It was as if she was trying to lighten the mood before giving him a bad news.

“I know what you’re thinking, it’s not bad news per se,”

“Oh?”

“There are aliens on Earth.”

“…”

“…”

“What the fuck! Don’t bring that up casually in a conversation,”

“I won't say anything else as it’ll affect your judgment.”

“Too late for that! I’ve never heard about it even in the past life.” Zyrus had lost his bearings after hearing about the aliens. It wasn’t surprising that intelligent life existed on other planets, but for them to be on Earth would mean that...

“As you might’ve guessed, humans discovered their traces when they were a few light-years away.”

“Is that why they abandoned the earth and ran away? I thought it was because of pollution and the dying sun,”

“That was part of the reason as well,”

‘Phew…’ Zyrus exhaled a deep breath as he massaged his temple. Even with his thousand years of experience it was too much to take in. The sanctuary, his regression, and the aliens… everything seemed to be connected somehow

“Don’t think too much about it, just do as I say for the time being,” Aurora spoke to him in a comforting tone.

“Alright... I trust you.”

There was no point in thinking about events that were out of his control.

‘I have to get stronger, that’s all that matters for now.’ Zyrus clenched his fists and looked at her with a resolute gaze.

“Good. Long story short, you’ll encounter them if you follow the cube's direction.” Aurora pointed at the cube as she flapped her butterfly wings,

“Don’t underestimate them, they’re strong. Fortunately, those on the earth are of the lower rung of their society.”

“I see, I suppose you want me to wipe them out,”

“That’s the plan. All you have to do is complete the missions on Earth. Of course, you’ll get rewards in return.”

“Now we’re talking,” Zyrus grinned at Aurora who was floating in the sky.

“Hehe, you’ll love the reward for sure. However, I’m here for another thing. Remember how I told you it’s not a particularly bad situation?”

“Mhm.”

“Take this with you.” Aurora hovered around him to give him a glass container.

“What is it?” Zyrus was curious as he observed the flask-like object in his hand.

However, There was no one left to answer him. Aurora had left as if she was never here to begin with.

‘Her powers are as amazing as ever,’ Zyrus clicked his tongue and put the flask away as well. Time magic was the most difficult path for a reason. He had talked with her for quite a while, but now it seemed as if nothing had happened.

“Anyway, I’d better get going,” Zyrus muttered to himself as he walked back to the newly conquered campsite.

As for the aftermath? He left that for Ria who was glaring daggers at his back.

…

Giant trees formed a canopy that blocked the crimson sunlight. This enormous stretch of forest housed a variety of creatures, starting from the fist-sized insects to the thousand-foot-long snakes. These creatures thrived in the environment where it was impossible for humans to survive.

There was a swamp beneath this forest that stretched for thousands of kilometers. It had been a week since Zyrus had arrived in this area.

Surprisingly, this place was quite suitable for the current him. His vision was unobstructed and he was able to easily move across the swamp. This place was filled with countless creatures that were toxic in nature, and naturally, none of them had any effect on him.

“Kyuu~”

“Yeah I’m bored as well,” Zyrus replied to the flying squirrel which was yawning on his shoulder.

When Zyrus emerged from the portal at his previous location, the poor creature was scared shitless. Only after recognizing his familiar scent did it let down its guard.

At first Zyrus was pumped up for an exciting fight, but to his dismay, all he had done after coming back was to go left and right in this godforsaken forest.

‘Well, not everything is bad,’ Zyrus smiled he looked at his clothes with satisfaction. They never failed to amaze him no matter how many times he looked at them.

He was wearing a dark blue hoodie with beige pants that miraculously fit his scaly legs. At his waist was a bronze belt that had a lot of pockets attached to it. Most importantly, they had a layer of protective glint that repelled the dust and swamp water.

As Zyrus walked according to the cube’s directions for another half a day, a change finally occurred.

His surroundings remained the same but the ground beneath him had changed. It was hard to notice at first, but with his enhanced senses he could feel the ground ten feet below.

Just as he was about to check directions again, the cube floated up from his pocket and flashed with a red light.

[Mission: A relay across generations]

[Find the traces left behind by your ancestor, the first human who had come in contact with the sanctuary]

It was the same mission he had seen the first time. Zyrus clicked on the completion message to receive rewards and the new mission.

What happened, however, was completely out of Zyrus’s expression.

The inventory that he wasn’t able to use outside the sanctuary suddenly appeared in front of him. And before he could think of anything further, a black scroll flew out on its own.

It was the class selection scroll he had acquired after defeating Nidraxis’s clone.