Raith was overwhelmed once more.
"What is it again this time"
[The abyss has resonated with your desires]
[You are not qualified for the third trial of death]
[Show your worth, Gain the qualifications]
[The abyss is watching]
The message disappeared with this but left Raith even more confused than before.
"Proof my worth? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I jumped into a volcano isn't that enough for you?!"
Raith's complaints disappeared into the cold wind, he sat cross-legged and looked into the clear white sky.
'...It has been frustrating... but it has been progressive. And as I said, if walking this path is how I will gain the power I need. Then I won't dread it.'
He nodded and lowered his head with a smile then went inside afterward.
***
It has been one month since Ephselon city was declared a danger zone and all citizens were evacuated. Epheslon city was separated from the rest of the nation by sea, but nearer to Shien Molong State, where is said to be the private residence of a certain retired hero, who refused to evacuate even when he was shown the dangers that lurked in the dungeon.
Maybe it was his pride or confidence who knows but no one could dare say otherwise because this man Yao Djansi is a legend although now old and withering in his mansion but his legacy and achievements have never been able to be washed away by incoming heroes, some heroes have also done greater things such as hunting down tier 9 field monsters on their own or defeating some well known strong monsters such as drakes.
But this was different.
There was a large difference between field monsters and dungeons monsters.
Why?
Because of the cosmotic energy that dungeon monsters are exposed to. All things comprise of energy but that basis, foundation, and beginning of all energy is the cosmotic energy which can only be rivaled by...
Dungeons are Cosmology driven one that always occurs regardless of which universe except for universes that have an overwhelming influence of the Cosmos such as the primordial and celestial realms.
Because dungeons are Cosmology driven the monsters are exposed to a great amount of Cosmos energy, this energy does not only make them stronger but creates in them a core; giving them the capability of quick adaptation and rapid evolution which meant that the difficult the dungeon the more of a threat they are to not just humanity but other forms of existence.
Which was why their danger levels were classified between level 1 ~ level 10.
Level 10 dungeons are a very rare occurrence and have only appeared twice and one of those twice was cleared by The White Hero Yao Djansi alongside notable Heroes from different nations such as Dellagado Lambert, Allan Mor'Deus, Paldina the Grey Empress, and several other legendary heroes who were slowly being replaced by their offspring.
This was an occurrence forty years ago when Yao Djansi was ending his prime now he is just a ninety-something man living his life amidst the thick forest of Shien Molong states.
Apart from that time over a month ago was another time that a level 10 dungeon would appear and be distributed all over the world, Rigeria was lucky they only had to deal with one. The news reports show that half of Nelgal nation has been brought to a ravaging disaster because of the outbreak of two level 10 dungeons.
Although the heroes did their best, in the end, they were just another country that was lacking in strength, in fact, consider the weakest, and going forward might have to close down the entire country... as a matter of fact, people were already migrating.
Of course, the surging appearance of dungeons meant more resources but that is if they can clear these dungeons.
Yao Djansi was seated in the open yard of his house, reading the newspaper which reported the current state of Nelgal and what the Pomei Empire and other nations are proposing towards helping weak nations that couldn't handle this sudden change.
"How selfish, using desperate times like this to exploit nations. tsk tsk"
He clicked his tongue and sipped the cup of tea that was placed beside him. Wearing a white robe and a beach-themed short. The hairline of his white hair on both the right and left side had shifted inwards leaving only the center in front, his hair was shoulder-length and its whiteness was almost sparkling under the serene sun.
He flipped to the next page and continued but came to an abrupt stop with his eyeballs thinning in as a heavy thud struck his heart.
'What is this? Monsters?'
As he stood up, his black eyeballs turned white and began to exude white smoky energy.
"How in the world? I thought they said these monsters won't be able to cross the sea since they are ants and can't fly."
He muttered to himself, remembering the conversation between him and the Rigeria Heroes Association President who had come to tell him that even though the monsters were ant-type it would still be best and safe for him to evacuate because his residence was very close to Ephselon city but he blatantly refused, he did conquer a level 10 dungeon after all.
"You arrogant monsters!"
He yelled and in that instance a tremendous pillar of light stroke down upon him arming him with white armor almost making him look like the jade emperor in battle mode.
A swarm of black ants covered the sky above him instantly turning the bright day to night and there the battle began.
...
"President! President! The drone camera in Ephselon has captured footage of an outbreak!"
One of the agents ran into the president's office with a smart tablet in his hand.
"Huh?"
'Is that what this uncomfortable feeling is'
He collected the tablet and began to watch it, moments later the hand that held the tablet began to shake with his brows furrowed and his eyes slowly turning from brown to blue.
"This is how recent?"
"One week ago."
"As at when we and the Bluezlion guild, and several other guilds went inside the monsters did not have wings, are you telling me those monsters evolved in just two weeks, they adapted to their surrounding and evolved in order to cross the limitations it presented them?"
"I think that is exactly how this is too... in Nelgal, the monsters there are supposed to be water-type and not be able to survive on land they suddenly began to come out of the water and their tails became legs, their fins became a fist. I think this is really how powerful a level 10 dungeon monster is."
"Ah..."
The association president dropped the tablet and sank into his seat
"Then we should be worried about something."
"What is that?"
"While we were in the dungeon, the ants were dragging away dead bodies of heroes that fell."
"Yes, the Bluezlion also reported the same thing, that they were unable to retrieve the body of their assistant guild president who died protecting the entire party."
"Yes... thanks to him a lot of people were able to survive and leave the dungeon. Those monsters' strength is in their numbers no matter how many we killed they just kept coming and coming. And were even intelligent enough to learn from repeated battles."
"Sir, will Yao Djansi be safe?"
The association president instantly flung to his feet.
"That is right! Send a drone there right now! If possible send a rescue chopper too!!"
He shouted with perspiration breaking out of his forehead.
'Oh shit, Sir Yao, I hope you have not been taken by them.'
...
Every of Yao's strikes was explosive and killed hundreds of ants in one go. However, there was no end to them, they kept coming.
~Wham~
With a shining spear in his hand, Yao delved hundreds of light spear projections into the sky of flying ants, finally causing light to leak into the atmosphere.
He staggered for a bit.
"Did my body wear out from using one skill...?"
As the ray of light fell on him he felt his strength return and stood back up and continued to swivel the spear around himself, shattering the ants that flew towards him as he walked forward.
The minute he stepped away from the ray of sunlight that broke in from the swarming ants he staggered forward and in that instance a metallic red hand with three long claws plunged into his chest.
~Hiikkk~
He vomited blood as he suddenly remembered something that he never should have forgotten but old age has its consequences.
'...Sunlight...'
The ants swarmed over the open space closing the little rays of sunlight that escaped through just as if they knew that he was invincible under the sun.
The red hand grabbed his head and flung him with a twirl—his body smashed his way into the woods and tumbled on the ground ceaselessly as he was nearing his stopping point the red figure appeared behind him and spiraled a kick at him, smashing him into the tree opposite him.
The tall red humanoid ant with white compound eyes and extra two pairs of hands that folded into his body, leaving only one pair of hands.
Looking like a result of the mixed breeding of humans and ants, he slowly walked towards the man who was covered in blood and was gasping for his breath as the terrifying monster grabbed his neck and lifted him.
~whish~
With a swing of his claws, Yao's head went flying off. The monster dropped the body and walked away while the ground ants who were almost 4 ft tall dragged the man's corpse.
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