System Sovereign

A LitRPG Adventure

Kaz Hunter

Copyright © 2023 Kaz Hunter

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

1. In the Time After

The days grew progressively warmer. Summer was on the horizon, and I, was on cloud nine. I could lazily lie on the grass outside the city boundaries, undisturbed by the world. My shadow stretched freely, fearless of any constraints. The creatures that were usually confined found freedom - massive serpents slithered on the ground, and majestic dragons soared in the sky. Everyone was free to act as they pleased, but with a single caveat: they shouldn't obstruct the sun's rays from reaching me.

"Ease up on the wind, Timor," I told the drake. A hint of satisfaction tugged at my lips when the creature adjusted its flight to be less conspicuous. The once powerful gusts turned into a gentle breeze, allowing me to breathe easy. Few moments could rival this bliss.

For half a year, this had been my daily life. Wake up, stretch a bit, let the summons roam and glide freely, then just sprawl on the grass within the 5th zone, free from any worry. Despite ongoing efforts to establish a human footprint within the zone, vast expanses remained untouched by civilization. On rare occasions, a farmer or hiker might glimpse me from afar. However, I had chosen such a secluded spot so that no one would deliberately venture here.

Even the local wildlife gave me a wide berth. In this place, I had the complete freedom to be myself, devoid of any concerns.

Liam's assistance meant my obligations were virtually non-existent. With the [Demon King’s] demise and survivors making their way home, the zones witnessed a dramatic shift in power dynamics. As guilds were exposed for conspiring to suppress the masses, the prominent ones became breeding grounds for distrust. The leaders who remained prior to my intervention weren't viewed as reliable. Thus, new leaders had to step up to the plate.

It was basically perfect, and not my problem.

Initially, the spotlight had fixated squarely on me, Sloan. Many argued that since I had played a pivotal role in uprooting the corruption, who could be better suited than me for leading the charge against potential future misconduct? Moreover, I wasn't a pushover by any means. I harbored a formidable power within, enough to face virtually anyone without breaking a sweat. A power I had never wanted, but made my own.

In their eyes, the rationale was rock solid. However, to me, it resembled nothing more than an incessant burden—a ceaseless stream of daily obligations and an ever-growing list of tasks awaiting completion. Throughout the planning phase of the raid on the [Demon King’s] fortress, I had already been dragged into countless meetings. I harbored no ambition or necessity to occupy a seat of power. My duty had been fulfilled; the corruption had been purged. It was high time for another to take the helm.

My blunt refusal—asking them to kindly piss off—had sown a seed of confusion regarding a suitable candidate. Luther emerged as the next viable option, but even this seasoned warrior and astute detective declined the offer. The strenuous battle to reach the [Demon King] had left him bearing deep-seated wounds, aches that even the most proficient healers couldn't alleviate. Although the essence of authority lingered around him, ready to be summoned if needed, sustaining it continuously seemed an insurmountable task. He settled into a role at the head of the Hunters' Association, but it was primarily desk-bound, distancing himself from the glare of public scrutiny. The responsibility of stepping into the limelight was thus relegated to a new leader, one whom I found myself coerced to endorse.

The chosen one needed to stand apart from the mainstream guilds, possessing a reputation that invited trust, and substantial support to forestall any objections to their appointment. This criteria was met in Liam Wilson, the modest leader of a burgeoning guild that had recently accrued substantial wealth through harvesting the remnants of the diminutive [Rifts] for crystals before pivoting to more sustainable industries. They were pioneers, adapting swiftly to the shifting tides of time. Moreover, I was privy to Liam's little secret—that he harbored aspirations for this very role.

Faced with a lack of other capable contenders, I reluctantly pushed the young Liam into the role. In hindsight, he was the perfect fit. Liam was detached from the major guilds, harboring a skeptical view of them from the get-go. He'd earned my trust over the grueling months, and with my robust endorsement, no one dared challenge his position. Some [S-Rankers] were initially miffed at the idea of being overseen by someone of Liam's modest power. However, these perceptions transformed as time progressed and Liam proved his worth.

Surprisingly, entrusting a person with a wealth of experience in business management and profit-making proved advantageous. The governance of the guilds became a breeze. Issues of coordination faded into history as guilds collaborated seamlessly, devoid of grievances or conflict. Candidly, I hadn’t anticipated such efficacy from the young man. Yet, Liam's leadership was a testament to how I'd underestimated him.

Delegating responsibility, once more, had borne fruitful outcomes.

Under Liam's able command, the quest to obliterate the remaining [Rifts] kicked off in full swing. It was a formidable endeavor, especially given the dwindling numbers of [Hunters]. While no new [Rifts] would manifest, our ranks weren't swelling either. This marked the end for both sides. The ensuing phase was a grueling war of attrition. The onus was on us to seal the residual breaches in reality before the last of the hunters met their demise.

We weren’t faring too shabbily, though. The mission was arduous, undoubtedly, but I held faith in our collective pacing. Every single [Rift] within the zones, whether concealed beneath the earth or hovering in the sky, was obliterated. All potential threats were eradicated, granting the [Hunters] unhindered access beyond the safety of walls. Venturing into the vast expanse beyond these zones was, by all accounts, an uncanny experience. While I hadn’t personally embarked on such a journey, preferring the familiar wilderness surrounding me, returning [Hunters] regaled us with wild tales.

The external world had remained in a suspended state during our absence. The [Rifts], having emerged across the continents and remained static for years, now began exerting their dominance. Capital cities were ensnared in gargantuan webs, mountain ranges had shifted to accommodate titanic stone giants, and expansive lakes transformed into habitats for diverse aquatic and mermaid species.

This only represented a fraction of the alterations and the monumental tasks awaiting us to reclaim our homeland. But hope burgeoned. Despite the limited population within the 8 zones, aspirations for the world beyond intensified. The majority hadn't witnessed the initial chaos, but the older generation clung to memories of the bygone world. Now, with the tantalizing prospect of reclaiming their former territories, a sense of restlessness surged through them.

In these parts, patience had become a rare commodity.

Yet, it was essential they reacquainted themselves with it. The inhabitants had managed to endure over two decades of waiting. Surely, a few more years, especially if it meant avoiding senseless deaths, wouldn't be too much to ask?

As I was pondering this, a fleeting thought began to form. But before it could fully crystallize, something caught my eye.

A person.

2. Dealings

The moment an unfamiliar presence grazed my senses, I instantly sprang into action, my body following years of honed instinct. I swiftly transitioned from the soft grassy terrain to a combat-ready stance: one foot firmly planted on the ground, while the other was already mid-air, poised to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick.

For a fleeting second, a confident grin caught my eye before the figure transformed into an almost imperceptible blur, swiftly evading my strike. My attack, precise and calculated, met nothing but the open air.

Though I prided myself on my sharp reflexes, I couldn’t quite track the figure's movement. While teleportation was a familiar concept, the subtle shifts I felt suggested something more—perhaps the utilization of high-speed movement or even invisibility.

"Is there a problem, human? Haven't witnessed a simple sleight of hand before?" the figure taunted in a nasal tone.

Reacting instantly, Timor dove from the sky, attempting to pin down the elusive target. But all we saw was that signature smirk moments before the individual vanished yet again amidst a puff of smoke. I signaled my comrades to halt, though my vigilant shadow companions remained at the ready, prepared for any sudden movements. The unsettling laughter echoing from all directions was not something I took lightly.

Someone with this speed, this agility, was rare. I hadn't expected to encounter someone who could keep pace with me, especially after I'd worked tirelessly to stand atop the apex, surpassing all potential rivals. But here, before me, was someone who could seemingly match my skills, and they were quite entertained by the whole encounter.

"You're caught off guard again! If humans had a shred of humility, now would be the time to show it," the man jeered, clutching his sides in mirth. I observed him stoically, my face betraying no emotion. His power was palpable, yet intriguingly subdued. He continued, "Have any grievances to air, human?"

I replied tersely, "Not ones fit for genteel ears." Taking a moment to assess him, I noted his sophisticated attire: a sleek dark-gray suit, contrasting with his pale skin and striking green eyes. His long, black hair flowed effortlessly, complementing his captivating smile. This was a look suited for a high-profile gala, not an unexpected confrontation in a forest. Given his audacious appearance here, in this remote location, there was only one plausible explanation. "You deliberately sought me out in this place, didn't you?"

As I looked into the man's eyes, searching for any hint of deceit, he responded with a playful glint in his gaze. "Tracked, to be precise," he said, the corners of his lips curling into a smug grin. "Honestly, it wasn’t too challenging. A little bird here, a whisper there, then a few overt clues from the local farms. And well, spotting a drake soaring high above? It wasn’t exactly difficult to deduce who its master might be."

I eyed the mysterious stranger intently, my distrust evident. Here was no ordinary individual, but a [Hunter] possessing the exceptional ability to conceal his presence, only revealing himself at the precise moment he chose to. His sudden appearance and evident agility were a more significant threat than anything I’d encountered in recent memory.

The enigma standing before me hadn’t finished with his revelations. "Ah, I seemed to have missed the introductions," he remarked, feigning shock, his hand dramatically pressed against his chest. I tried to stay neutral, but I couldn't quite share his theatrics. "Many in your realm address me with... less flattering epithets," he continued, listing them off with a hint of amusement. "’Idiot,’ ‘bastard,’ and oh, my personal favorite, ‘pain in my ass.’ However, I do have a preference. Loki Laufeyson. Sounds regal, doesn’t it? I even had to venture into the treacherous third zone to commission this impeccable suit from a skilled tailor. The effort was absolutely worth it. Behold its unmatched mobility! The days when such an attire was easily attainable are long behind us."

Growing weary of his monologue, I interjected, "Enough of your games. Many [Hunters] I've encountered chose names of ancient gods, yet you are truly the first to embody the tales so profoundly. What was it? Loki Whateverson? You're the epitome of the trickster I had always envisioned."

The audacity and pomp of some [Hunters] was no news to me. I had encountered those who, after naming themselves after legendary demi-gods, mistook their boosted [A-Ranks] for invincibility, often meeting untimely and wholly avoidable ends. Taking on the moniker of a formidable deity didn't necessarily endow you with their strengths.

Yet, this particular individual... I harbored a nagging suspicion that he might genuinely live up to his chosen name. Most [S-Rankers] might exhibit an exceptional burst of speed or power, the kind that could even catch someone like me off guard. But this was something else. No trace of [Mana] expenditure, no reliance on universal energies. Just raw, unbridled speed, and a physique so superior it defied understanding.

All of it was impeccably dressed.

His voice broke through my thoughts, dripping with sarcasm. "Do you truly believe I mirror the legend so closely?" Loki mused, pretending to be flattered by my less than complimentary assessment. "I'll graciously accept your unintended compliment. After all, only the truly skilled can recognize another of their caliber."

His words seemed endless, an unending torrent of arrogance.

"Is that truly the extent of your visit here?" I asked, my tone firm. "Emerging from the void to shower me with some superficial praise, and then vanishing just as quickly? I am curious, to which guild do you pledge your loyalty?"

Loki's smirk widened as he replied with a tease, "Oh, that’s a little secret that'll remain under wraps for a few more weeks." He paused, his grin taking on a devilish slant, "Now, as to why I decided to grace you with my presence? You could say it’s a tad self-indulgent. My sibling vehemently opposed the idea, even extracted a promise from me to abstain, but I couldn't resist. I mean, just observe that expression of yours! It’s absolutely priceless. A reaction that I'd miss if I chose to delay my appearance. The moment would've lost its charm, and I wouldn’t have the pleasure of witnessing it firsthand."

I sighed inwardly. This was yet another characteristic that seemed to plague [S-Rankers]—a propensity for aggravating others without facing any repercussions. In the current state of affairs, there wasn't a higher authority that could put them in their place. Only a handful of S-Rankers remained, each deemed invaluable. Losing even one was considered an unparalleled catastrophe, elevating their standing within society to near demigod status. This reverence clearly inflated their egos to unbearable proportions.

My patience was fraying at the edges. "Would you mind articulating your point without the needless theatrics?" I asked, a hint of irritation seeping into my voice. I was on the verge of walking away, the peaceful interlude prior to this encounter clearly ruined. I could see the flicker of realization in Loki's eyes, his smirk lessening ever so slightly.

"Yeesh, tough audience," the man muttered under his breath before brushing off the impending criticism. He then added in a mockingly considerate tone, "Alright, alright, I’ll simplify things for you, human. The name's Loki. I took the liberty of being the inaugural visitor from the new batch to greet you. And I must say, brace yourself for when the others begin concocting their own amusing plans. Judging by what I glimpsed during my approach, you should be receiving a phone call momentarily."

His words offered no substantial insight, leaving me more frustrated than enlightened.

As I opened my mouth to press for more information, I was halted by the sudden vibration emanating from my pocket. I reached for my phone, perplexed. It wasn't programmed to ring unless the caller was Liam, Tometh, Luther, or Sara. "How could you possibly know about this?" I demanded, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Loki raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, a playful grin on his face. "A trickster never divulges his secrets," he declared, barely containing his laughter before it broke through, echoing ominously around us.

Choosing to disregard his irritating display, I answered the call, pressing the phone firmly against my ear.

"Listen, Liam, I consented to a discussion only next week," I began sternly before Liam could get a word in. I was ready to lay into him further when I detected a background cacophony of urgent voices on Liam's end, making me reconsider my initial reprimand. "What seems to be the urgency?"

Liam's voice crackled through, laced with unmistakable tension. "We've encountered a serious problem in old Egypt," he reported, his voice punctuated by frenzied shouts in the background before focusing back on me. His next words sent a chill down my spine. "A scouting party stumbled upon an S-Ranked [Rift]. They maintained a cautious distance, but it already began spawning creatures. Two of our team were caught unawares, and... they didn't make it, Sloan. The beasts got to them before any help could arrive."

Liam's revelation hit me. "Didn't we ensure that every team had two of our elite [Hunters] onboard to prevent any surprise fatalities among the less experienced?" I asked, trying to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

"The fatalities were those very elite members," Liam responded, his voice heavy with regret. My gaze instinctively shifted towards the western horizon, calculating the distance. With Timor as my mount, the journey could be expedited. Yet, would it suffice? "The rest of the team managed to pull back," Liam continued, "But the [Rift] is not stabilizing. In fact, it's expanding at an unprecedented rate."

The stakes were rising, and it was clear that standing on the sidelines was no longer an option. Regardless of any potential risks to the surviving [S-Rankers], it was time I took matters into my own hands. My peaceful six-month hiatus had come to an abrupt end.

The moment for the [Sovereign’s] re-emergence had dawned.

"I'll be there in less than an hour," I vowed. I could hear the palpable relief in Liam's exhale on the other end. Had the faith others held in me diminished so significantly over time? "Keep me updated on any changes, understood?"

"Absolutely," Liam's voice carried a touch of hopefulness. "Please, make haste."

"Trust me, I will," I assured him, ending the call. Turning my attention to the enigmatic figure beside me, I was desperate for some clarity. The way Loki had eerily foreseen this crisis demanded an explanation. "How could you possibly have known..."

But in the blink of an eye, Loki had vanished. None of my [Summons] detected his sudden departure. One moment he was there, and the next, he had evaporated without leaving the slightest trace behind.

The man certainly had a knack for dramatic exits. Under normal circumstances, I would've pursued him, trying to decipher his mysterious methods. However, with each passing second, time was of the essence. People were counting on me, lives were at stake.

Mounting Timor, I commanded my other [Summons] to meld into my shadow. With a powerful thrust, we ascended, piercing through the dense canopy of clouds, reaching speeds that modern aircraft could only aspire to.

I could only hope that our swift intervention would make a difference.

3. Spare Focus

The heat of the air intensified with every moment as I soared through the sky on Timor. Below me, the powerful creature exerted himself, propelling us at maximum velocity. The world beneath transformed into fleeting images; hills rushed past, mountains stood tall momentarily, and rivers snaked by within mere seconds before becoming memories. Our focus was singular: those distinctive three spires atop the pyramids, neighboring a city ravaged by time.

The relentless sands of time hadn’t spared this ancient place. Vast dunes concealed entire streets, while other structures, laid bare to the elements, showcased the scars of decay and warfare. Some ruins spoke of a distant past, but many told stories of very recent destruction.

Evidence of recent chaos became unmistakably clear with the intermittent flash and crackle of lightning from below. The bolts struck a few colossal beetles, ricocheting off nearby towering structures. Several multi-storied buildings crumbled upon impact, but the giant beetles? They barely flinched, resuming their relentless march towards a group of eight [S-Rankers].

"Timor, remain airborne and scout the variety of creatures down there," I directed. In acknowledgment, the drake tilted, descending rapidly. My [Summons] joined our descent: a formidable pack of golden wolves emerged, their aura promising a swift demise to any foe they encountered. "Focus on safeguarding the [S-Rankers]. They must not be harmed."

As the words left my lips, I accelerated, mana pulsing within me, granting me a speed that was almost a blur to the naked eye. To my surprise, a teammate's reflexes kicked in. Beams of blue lightning, unmistakably from our team's mage, zapped towards me. But by the time they reached where I'd been, I was already elsewhere. Chasing mere after-images never bore fruitful results.

Yet, astonishingly, those two enormous beetles anticipated my approach. They pivoted, seemingly attempting to absorb the impending blow with their carapace. They may have been clever enough to spot me, but they clearly underestimated my prowess. With a swift aerial maneuver, I brandished my dagger, slicing a devastating arc across them. Their tough exoskeletons split open, exposing their vulnerable innards to the harsh desert environment. They let out tormented screeches, desperately trying to retaliate against a foe they could hardly keep up with. But their efforts were in vain.

The beetles' armored exteriors buckled, their internal structure unable to withstand the sudden onslaught. Now vulnerable, I took a step back, granting our lightning mage the stage to display his prowess once more. Between his hands, menacing chains of lightning manifested, their presence so formidable that even his comrades stepped back in awe. As he unleashed his electric fury, thunderclaps echoed in quick succession, bombarding the helpless beetles. Nearby windows shattered from the sheer force, and the ground vibrated beneath our feet. But the hapless creatures bore the brunt of it. Defenseless, their innards were broiled by the arcing chains of the electric assault until they were reduced to mere charred remains.

I couldn't help but appreciate the sheer power of the mage's ability. Despite the noticeable charge-up time—something more akin to an [A-Ranker]—the precision and control over the lightning was unmistakably the domain of higher-tiered [S-Ranker].

If these were considered the less formidable members of the dispatched team, I pondered the strength of the actual threats we would soon face.

The blond-haired mage extended a hand, the residual electricity crackling around him. "Pleased to meet you, Mister Park," he greeted. As our hands met, I observed the faint, lingering sparks emanating from him. "It’s an honor."

"Think nothing of it," I replied, my sincerity perhaps more palpable than usual. "Are the rest of these seven the only survivors?"

"Yes, all the ones still breathing," the blond confirmed. His gaze shifted to the group huddled nearby. Their gear suggested elite warriors, yet their expressions were those of individuals on the brink of breaking down. Was the mere hint of adversity against a formidable foe enough to shake them so? The mage admonished them, "Show some respect in front of this man!"

"Or perhaps muster that respect knowing you're in the middle of a battlefield," I interjected, sensing through my bond with the wolves that they'd discovered other hostile entities in our vicinity. The surrounding structures resonated with the clashes of numerous skirmishes, as my [Summons] efficiently dispatched their foes. Though the enemy was undeniably strong, they were yet to prove a match for my forces. Turning my attention back to the mage, I inquired, "I missed your name earlier. How should I address you?"

In mere moments, the blond man seemed to falter, his composed facade crumbling as a bead of sweat formed on his forehead. I hadn't even exerted my aura, yet the mere knowledge of my identity had affected him so profoundly.

I mused that perhaps I should prevent such occurrences in the future.

"Ulrich Bech, sir," the blond man stammered, finally introducing himself. Internally, I conceded that the name seemed to suit him, even though I wasn't particularly fond of his deferential demeanor.

"Drop the formalities, please," I urged, receiving a brisk nod in return. "Just call me Sloan."

"Yes, si—Sloan," Ulrich stuttered, correcting himself swiftly before my brow could fully arch in mild irritation. "We will withdraw from the city and take our people to safety. We've been informed that you will be taking over our operations?"

"That's correct," I affirmed, offering a brief farewell to the group before rejoining my battalion of [Summons]. My golden wolves were executing their duties admirably, fending off the straggler creatures that veered away from the pyramids. However, more attention from the emerging horde was steadily being drawn to them. While a dozen higher-ranking [S-Rank] wolves could easily dismantle a couple of beetles, the escalating numbers were quickly tipping the scales in favor of the enemy.

I observed the [Rift], a churning, massive fracture in the space, continually spawning a diverse array of monsters. Alarmingly, it was expanding, the once twenty-meter-high portal was nearing thirty meters in diameter. If left unchecked, it promised to grow into a significant threat merely by its sheer size.

As I beckoned forth the remainder of my forces, unleashing an array of gods and mythical beasts to engage the advancing swarm, a nagging question lingered in my mind. What was causing this sudden, rapid expansion? Previously, this [Rift] had been disgorging creatures at a manageable pace, something the excursion team could handle without issue. But now, as we approached its epicenter, the [Rift] seemed to escalate its assault, spawning more monsters possessing greater power and securing a broader foothold in our realm. The coordination was eerie, almost as if it were an orchestrated campaign.

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at play here than mere random occurrences dictated by the chaotic principles governing these [Rifts]. Could there be someone orchestrating this, someone pulling the strings, amplifying its growth at this precise moment?

With a resolute mind, I vowed to unearth the truth behind this anomaly. Rallying my forces, I issued the command to charge, prepared to uncover whether an unseen hand had ignited this escalating conflict, a force I had yet to encounter in my time.

An odd mix of adversaries stormed towards me. Sand elementals that swept through the air with ferocity, swarms of beetles both minuscule and enormous, and the partially decayed remains of corpses swathed in tattered cloth, each with the strength to challenge even the top [Hunters] of this world. To an unsuspecting observer, these foes might have been a serious threat. Yet, having honed my skills and senses over countless battles, I wasn’t one to be caught off-guard anymore.

As a gargantuan entity made of cloth and decaying flesh emerged, rivaling the stature of a [Boss], my determination to keep my distance wasn't borne out of fear or defeat. Rather, it was the sheer repulsion at its gruesome appearance. The only suitable cleansing for such an abomination was a torrent of inky flames, courtesy of my trusty drake, Timor. He swooped down, extending his wings just in the nick of time to unleash a massive firestorm. The bulk of the flames targeted the looming monster, with its dry cloth serving as perfect fuel. Yet, Timor had to make a second pass, this time physically diving onto the beast, shredding the putrid flesh binding it.

But destiny wasn't in the mood to let me spectate as my [Summons] took charge. While my summoned mages, wielding both elemental and natural forces, might have stood by my side, the enemies paid them no mind. I sensed the imminent threat as the sand elementals soared, their granular hands aiming to crush me.

They never made it. A swift leap forced their hands to recalibrate their trajectory. A few quick slashes from my dagger destabilized their formation. They were rendered ineffective. And as soon as my other [Summons] realized the looming threat, they swiftly dealt with it, relegating me to the sidelines once again.

The sheer might of having an army to tackle the brunt of the battle was awe-inspiring. In a span of mere minutes, all adversaries were decimated. Sure, some monsters still emerged from the [Rift], but they were dispatched before they could even think of causing harm.

My focus then shifted to the task at hand—eliminating the primary threat within the [Rift] and ensuring its closure. I gauged its size, feeling confident that I could venture in without being trapped. It seemed I was in for a short expedition.

Retracting most of my [Summons] into my shadow, I left around a hundred behind, stationed in the sun-soaked sands. Their mission was to fend off any emerging threats or eliminate any lurking foes.

"Protect the people, eliminate the monsters," I reaffirmed my resolve, stepping boldly into the enigmatic [Rift]. An initial wave of disorientation washed over me, giving way to a surprising sight. Instead of a vast cave or verdant landscape that I might have anticipated, I found myself gazing upon... the exact spot I'd just vacated.

The trio of pyramids within the [Rift] mirrored the very ones I'd been observing moments earlier. Though these appeared somewhat less weathered, the familiarity was unmistakable.

Same pyramids, same setting, yet the era and surroundings were distinctly different. The structures encircling the pyramids weren't contemporary at all. They boasted of exquisite and meticulous craftsmanship in stone, but they clearly weren't constructed within the last two centuries.

There they stood, an enigmatic glimpse into a history I wasn't even certain had transpired.

"Take down the [Boss] and make an exit," I whispered to myself, contemplating whether this detour would extend my stay. The pyramids stood majestic before me, but the sight of the amassed crowd emerging from their homes made me weigh the possibility of having to confront them first.

However, this unexpected twist presented a prime opportunity to warm up. Having my army engage with the initial wave was strategic, but it was high time for me to dive back into the action. Grasping my dagger firmly in my right hand, its [Toxin] and [Lightning] properties surged to life. As the jaws of the approaching horde gaped impossibly wide, releasing a deafening screech, a smirk stretched across my face.

This was bound to be exhilarating.

Matching their momentum with mine, I lunged at the forefront of the horde. My boots made contact with a monster’s shoulders, providing a platform to crouch, swiftly slice its throat, and vault upwards before its carcass had a chance to crumble. My rapid assault left the creatures reeling, unable to lash out. Yet, after repeating this maneuver a few more times, it became evident that they were adapting. They might've been deemed [S-Rank] monsters for a reason. Their speed and agility belied their simplistic demeanor.

A momentary lapse during my fifth strike left me vulnerable, as decayed nails burrowed into my ankle. The sensation made me flinch. Quickly dispatching the offender, a realization hit me: had I genuinely been compromised by such a low-tier threat? My skills seemed to have rusted a bit.

The best recourse? To refocus.

Soaring upwards, I endeavored to find my center. This wasn't the place to let my guard down or get overwhelmed. The true adversary here was my own complacency, my inability to view the entire battlefield holistically, and my hasty urge to wrap things up.

Swift elimination wasn't the endgame. Strategic and meticulous annihilation was the primary goal. I needed to internalize this, lest I end up being the one riddled with gashes.

Deep breath. Find calm.

With renewed perspective, I let gravity reclaim me. The horde tried to ensnare me once again, but a burst of my potent mana repelled them effortlessly. As the [Sovereign], no mere horde could intimidate me. I stood a cut above what many might perceive as grave threats.

My blade danced in the air, tracing a wide arc. All the repelled creatures met a swift end, their heads cleanly severed. A small victory, but many more awaited. Ten had already been destroyed and only a thousand more remained to go.

4. Rift Changes

Facing me was an enraged horde of a thousand enemies. They surged towards the spot they last saw me, but I always managed to stay a step ahead. In one swift motion, I darted in a certain direction, my blade making short work of every monster that dared come within striking distance. Within a mere twenty seconds, a hundred of them were down, testament to my acrobatic prowess as I swung wide arcs through the crowd. Always in motion, always seeking the next adversary, I was never stationary long enough for the horde to pin me down. And despite their numbers, I remained untouched.

Their desperation grew palpable with each enemy I dispatched. Some even hurled themselves into the air, hoping to obstruct my path. A few managed to do so, but they soon learned that my blade wasn't for show. With a deftness honed from countless battles, my dagger sliced through them with ease, spilling their dark ichor. The [Toxin] coursing through my blade showcased its lethal power, the green streaks it left behind on cloth and flesh becoming the eventual downfall of those it grazed. They might've endured the initial strike, but their chances in the subsequent moments? Not so promising.

Surveying the last handful trying to approach, I remarked, "So weak." These were the fortunate ones, having sustained only minor injuries since they were just out of my reach during my onslaught. However, their minimal wounds were sealing their fates. "But I'll give you this—you all served as excellent practice."

A series of anguished sounds emerged from their wounded throats before the last of them collapsed. To ensure they wouldn't rise again, I methodically cut each throat. These might have been my foes, but drawing out their end wasn't my style. Employing [Toxin] was already a bittersweet reminder of a certain witch I'd rather forget.

Its utility, though, was undeniable.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [157]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [158]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. I hadn't anticipated that the horde would reward me in such a manner. However, instead of dwelling on it, I quickly decided on my next move. With a focused thought, I allocated all 10 points directly into [Wisdom].

Status

Name:

Sloan Park

Level:

158

Class:

Sovereign of The Hallowed

Rank:

S+

Stamina:

2105/2310

Mana:

1402/2160

Strength

160

Willpower

200

Agility

230

Wisdom

215

Vitality

165

Available Points

-

Surveying the aftermath, I noticed the depletion in my [Mana]. Here I was, thinking I'd seamlessly gotten back into my stride, but I had overlooked the usage of [Mana-Bleed] amidst the chaos. A minor oversight, but had I relied more on my [Summons], I might've been in a tight spot.

Thankfully, the residual energy strands were still retrievable from the fallen enemies. Absorbing them didn't fully recharge my reserves, but it sufficed for the time being.

With a bit of luck, the [Boss] wouldn't consume too much of my energy or time.

However, its power was evident. I couldn't imagine a lesser entity commanding such a dramatic entrance. The architectural marvels around me, each a masterpiece in its own right, crumbled back to their foundational elements. These materials whizzed through the air, converging not on me, but on the largest of the three pyramids at the center.

From the amassed rubble, a grand staircase materialized. The steps, while large, were just about manageable for me. Ascending over a hundred of them, I reached a transformed pinnacle of the pyramid. Its peak had reshaped into a vast platform, stretching twenty meters in both length and width.

As I neared the top, the sheer expanse of the platform made sense, given the two imposing figures that stood there. I could feel their domineering presence even before I laid eyes on them. When I finally did, their appearance was somewhat unexpected. Both had a distinct human-like form: bronzed skin, brown eyes that radiated disdain, and they were draped in vibrant hues of red, green, and blue. As visually striking as their attire was, what drew my attention the most were their crowns. These weren't the types one reads about in medieval tales; they closely resembled those seen in old depictions of Egyptian pharaohs.

The crowns, with their detailed designs, sat atop the heads of two beings who undeniably held power. Their stance, posture, and the dismissive glances they shot my way screamed of their superiority. They were, without a doubt, [Bosses].

"Pleased to meet you both," I murmured, subtly adjusting my footing, readying myself. The one on the left gripped a golden staff which, I surmised, could be swung with deadly efficiency. My strategy quickly formed: tackle the one unarmed first. "I'd like for our encounter to be... painless."

I took a deep breath, my muscles coiling in anticipation, but then—

"Did you catch that, brother?" the [Boss] wielding the golden staff remarked, a smirk teasing the corner of his lips as he addressed his counterpart. "The human wishes for a painless encounter."

His companion, with a voice that resonated with a deeper, more measured tone, responded, "Indeed, I did." Their exchange caught me off-guard. Their lips moved, words flowed, but it was hard to reconcile with my understanding. "He appears to be mistaken."

The realization hit me: the [Bosses] were having a conversation. This was an anomaly, something I hadn't thought possible.

The breeze up here seemed to grow colder as their words echoed. I shifted slightly, reevaluating my initial strategy. A brief moment of unease washed over me. It wasn't their appearance or even their stature that unnerved me; it was their capacity to communicate, their ability to strategize and possibly outthink me. If they could converse, what else were they capable of?

"We've seen many like you," the unarmed [Boss] began, his eyes narrowing. "Bold at first, confident in their power. Yet, they all ended up the same, beneath our feet."

The other chuckled, spinning his golden staff effortlessly between his fingers. "Our reign has persisted for eons, yet every now and then, someone like you emerges, believing they can change the narrative."

I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to charge prematurely. Their words, meant to intimidate, had the opposite effect. It pissed me off.

"Talk is cheap," I retorted, steadying my breath. The landscape around us seemed to blur as my focus narrowed to just the two of them.

5. Ancient Ones

In the past, aside from my encounters in Olympus, it wasn't customary for a [Boss] within a standard [Rift] to possess the ability to speak. Sure, at times they could mimic voices, a tactic to lure unsuspecting [Hunters] into their snares, but this situation was starkly different. It wasn't a trap of deception but rather a mental snare I was unwittingly constructing in my own mind.

This scenario seemed utterly implausible. Yet, perhaps it wasn't entirely so. In the irregular [Rifts] I had ventured through, in my covert quest to amplify my power, I had encountered [Bosses] capable of verbal communication. They managed to engage in brief dialogues with me before the onset of the battle, turning largely silent as the fight unfolded.

However, this current predicament bore little resemblance to those instances. These beings were not addressing me directly. They were discussing me, seemingly indifferent to my presence, albeit slightly perturbed by it. To them, I appeared to be nothing more than an irritable insect.

This portrayal, I couldn't accept.

"How are you able to speak?" I found myself demanding, my tone clearly indicating my need for an explanation. Despite my stern inquiry, the one clutching the golden staff seemed on the verge of bursting into laughter. The demeaning disposition he exhibited reminded me of another individual I had encountered earlier in the day.

"The younger generations are quite bold, aren't they, brother?" the first one remarked, eliciting a disdainful grunt from the other.

"No, not bold. They are just arrogant due to their lack of knowledge. Time has caused them to overlook the true leaders of this world," the second one retorted, causing me to squint skeptically as their disdainful gaze finally settled on me. "Tell me, human, do you recognize us?"

"Surely, he does!"

In all honesty, I had not even the slightest clue, a fact that must have been evidently displayed on my face. My eyes scanned their flamboyant attire: golden staffs, overly ornate crowns, and vibrant, multicolored garments. My initial response would have been to label them as 'foolish,' considering no sensible combatant would adorn such attire for battle, yet there seemed to be a deeper significance.

"You are... the ancient pharaohs entombed in this place?" I hesitantly proposed, noticing an immediate souring of their expressions. Had I offended them in some way? The individuals buried here were believed to have been revered as god-kings, figures of supreme authority. What could possibly rank higher than that? Suddenly, a realization dawned on me. I recalled my earlier confrontation with King Arthur within an [S-Ranked Rift] on English soil prior to the massive betrayal. It seemed logical then, that gods would be the subsequent adversaries I'd face. "Ah, I see. You are gods, aren't you? I must admit, my knowledge on the Egyptian pantheon is rather limited. Could you possibly enlighten me on your identities?"

I found it difficult to discern if my guess had caused them greater offense or if they were simply masking their feelings. One thing was certain: both seemed to harbor an intense desire to crush me.

"A lack of knowledge equates to a lack of respect," the second brother proclaimed, the ground beneath him undergoing a sudden transformation, shifting from sandstone to a deep black earth. Even though they appeared to momentarily regain their composure, I couldn't help but notice their crowns morphing in color from gold to black, gradually becoming enveloped in fur. In no time, a jackal's head took the place of their human-like one, a low, menacing growl emanating from them. "A lack of wisdom leads to a loss of life."

Loss of life? I quickly sifted through my memories, trying to identify which Egyptian deity represented death. It was one of the more renowned ones, the name that most would recall.

"Anubis," I voiced my realization, observing as the intensity of Anubis's snarl diminished while he continued to study me. His anger might have ebbed, but traces of annoyance were still palpable. However, when it came to the other deity, I was utterly clueless about his identity. There weren't any distinguishing features to provide a clue. "I must confess, Anubis is the only name I recognize."

"Such audacity. I don't believe we've ever encountered someone so brazen as to utter such remarks to a god," the first brother responded, his vibrant robe transitioning to a pure shade of red. I maintained my silence, compelling the deity to eventually divulge his identity. "I am Set, god of war and chaos, entrusted with the task of reclaiming this world for its rightful rulers."

And they accused me of arrogance? It seemed the [Bosses] were severely lacking in self-awareness. Part of me wanted to bypass any further discussion and dive straight into the inevitable battle.

However, something they mentioned gave me pause.

"Reclaiming this world for its rightful rulers," I echoed, noting the smug grins returning to the faces of the two gods. It appeared they believed I had grasped their intentions. They had been on Earth before? Perhaps, but I couldn't say for certain. All I understood was their overarching goal. "And how do you envision accomplishing this? By simply stepping outside and slaughtering everyone until only you remain?"

Their laughter was both unsettling and revealing. "Why would we obliterate everyone? If we did, there'd be no one remaining to revere our undeniable might," Set quipped, laughing off my assumption. But the mischief in his laughter hinted at something deeper, a more comprehensive understanding of things than I had grasped. "Yet, there's an undeniable need to transform this world. Humanity has, in our eyes, mishandled its stewardship, allowing invaders to claim parts of our land without much resistance. We have no intention of spending our immortal days rectifying your mistakes. Instead, we'll summon one who can."

"Nun, the prime progenitor," Anubis interjected, completing Set's sentiment. I struggled to keep up. "The very entity who molded the sands beneath us, and who will now reshape it. He will restore the world to the pristine condition we left it in eons ago. We will reclaim our rightful throne atop all, and none will dare challenge our ascendancy."

Delusional deities, brimming with grandiose visions and showing little regard for life's present state. I couldn't deny my disdain for their mentality, especially amidst the rising tempest of sand swirling around the pyramid's base. It was fortunate that I stood some distance from the edge, for the wind's sheer force could easily have carried me away.

"Do you genuinely believe that you can execute such a grand scheme without any repercussions?" I probed, met only by their smug, gleeful expressions. Their confidence was unwavering, an unyielding belief that their audacious plan would unfold without a hitch. Could they truly be so blinded by their own ambition? "Mankind has endured for millennia. We won't crumble simply because a pair of deluded, pompous deities wish to rewrite history."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a peculiar glint amidst the swirling sandstorm. An entity, vast and pulsating with an energy unlike anything I had ever encountered. It appeared momentarily stymied, perhaps due to a lapse in concentration from these [Bosses].

Anubis's snarl intensified, droplets of saliva falling onto the ground. If he aimed to intimidate or instill fear in me with this display, he was sorely mistaken.

6. Grave Mistake

Facing a deity was a daunting task for a mere mortal, but with two of me? The scales tipped in our favor. I attacked from the left, and my shadow struck from the right, both of us coordinated and in sync. Set, in his desperation, smashed the ground with his staff, sending a massive wave of sand in an attempt to engulf us. But whether we slashed through it or soared above, the sand couldn't halt our advance. With my dagger imbued with [Toxin] and my shadow's blade driven by sheer animosity, we both lunged at the god. While Set managed to deflect my strike, my shadow's dagger sank deep into his left shoulder blade.

Panicking, Set tried to create distance. He swung his golden staff with all his might at my shadow, but the dagger, lodged deep within him, sliced further down, tearing through muscle and sinew effortlessly. The scene could have continued in our favor, if not for Anubis' sudden intervention.

Looking at us with a gaze that could freeze blood, the jackal-headed deity declared with a chilling grace, "A pest in its purest form." I didn't ponder on his words too much, but I instinctively felt the need to retreat as the ground surrounding the god of death transformed into ominous, blackened soil that emanated a palpable threat. "Time to crush you like the insignificant insect you are," he sneered.

"I'm eager to see you try," I shot back, grinning confidently. I narrowly evaded a staff hurled at me, propelling myself towards the momentarily vulnerable god of chaos. Set tried to swipe me out of the air, but agility was on my side. My dagger plunged into his forearm. He almost cursed out in agony, but he was distracted by the looming threat of my shadow, poised for another lethal strike.

In a climactic moment, as I thrust my dagger, aiming for the god's eyes, my shadow was already making a deadly incision into Set's neck. There was a fleeting moment of understanding in Set's gaze, a realization of impending doom. I felt an intense heat searing my arm that held him, but it was too little too late.

Set, the formidable god of chaos, collapsed to the ground, convulsing momentarily before his movements ceased entirely. Anubis might have wanted to intervene, but in this dance of blades and gods, he was a step too slow.

The god of death stood tall, shrouded in an aura of pure malevolence. "You've sealed your fate today," he proclaimed, a chilling veil of darkness enveloping him. Those jackal eyes of his ignited, emitting tendrils of smoky light. Everything in their gaze seemed to decay and wither, including me. I could feel it—the ominous power of his gaze trying to corrode my armor. But surrender? That wasn't in my nature.

"You are doomed to—" he began.

But I wasn't in the mood for listening. With a swift motion, my shadow and I launched ourselves into the air, bouncing off each other to dodge in opposite directions. Just in time too, as a potent beam of pure death energy erupted from Anubis's palm. The very atmosphere wailed in agony as it was assaulted by the god's power, but I had neither the luxury of time nor the inclination to care. With a precise thrust, my dagger tore through the god's left leg, causing the now-familiar green veins to spread, weakening his flesh.

"You little nuisance," Anubis snarled. From him sprang forth countless tendrils, all aiming for me. They lunged in perfect unison, trying to ensnare me. However, a few quick slashes of my trusty dagger sent most of them spiraling away, defeated.

My shadow had a different approach. It didn't fear those dark tendrils—after all, it was a being born from darkness. But there were challenges. As it lunged at Anubis, the god's mighty hand crushed down on my shadow's shoulder. However, the shadow's retaliatory stab, driving its dagger deep into the side of Anubis's head, proved that the sacrifice was more than worthwhile.

As the god crumpled onto the sandstone, he questioned, "Was it worth waiting thousands of years for this moment?" The menacing black terrain that had consumed everything around began to dissolve, leaving safe ground for me to stand on. My shadow swiftly returned to my side. Anubis, in his fading state, continued, "Centuries of exile, millennia deprived of this realm, only to meet our end upon reclaiming our so-called rightful position."

I looked down at the fallen god, watching as his form slowly deteriorated. "I'm not sure about your claim to this place," I began, "But others have taken up residence here during your absence." Feeble attempts from his tendrils sought to lash out at me, but my mere presence repelled them. Victory was mine. "Humans, we now claim this land, regardless of your outdated beliefs."

Anubis managed a raspy chuckle, "Humans? You believe you've truly earned anything?" His jackal head shook with a mix of amusement and disdain. "You're still blind to the chains that bind you."

Feeling confident, I retorted, "I'd say I'm pretty liberated, don't you think?"

But his laughter resumed, more eerie than before. "Why do you laugh?" I demanded.

"You might feel free, [Sovereign], but in reality, you're just a puppet. A mere symbol of what can be manipulated," Anubis asserted with a tinge of sorrow. "Your bonds are the most potent I've ever witnessed. The [Architect] must've seen something special in you."

Unease coursed through me. The mention of the [Architect] stirred memories. They were the mysterious force behind the [Rifts], having both assisted me and thwarted further invasions. But Anubis's words hinted at a much deeper connection, one that sounded a lot like a deep contract, "Explain yourself!" I demanded, needing clarity.

Yet, the god of death offered no further revelations. An oppressive silence engulfed the [Rift], leaving me alone, wrestling with a whirlwind of unanswered questions.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [159]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [160]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [161]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

…

Congratulations!

You have reached level [172]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

In a heartbeat, I allocated the acquired points directly into [Willpower], feeling a surge of energy in my palms as they began to glow, pronouncing the necessary command firmly and distinctly,

"[Resurrect]."

The trapped souls waged a ferocious battle to retain their newfound freedom, yearning to move on to the afterlife, but I wasn't about to grant them that liberty. With unwavering resolve, I intensified my hold, coercing them to integrate with my shadow. In the end, the struggle ceased, and I managed to have both powerful beings tightly ensnared within my control.

"Rise," I commanded with an authoritative tone.

Once mighty and revered as gods, their current state was nothing more than mere foot soldiers in my growing army. It was evident in their gaze that any semblance of intelligence or consciousness had vanished. They were reduced to empty vessels, void of any personality or will.

I faced them, my voice echoing in the silent surroundings, "You've lost your voices now, haven't you?" Despite my prodding, the only response I received was their blank, emotionless stares. No matter how much I attempted to provoke a reaction, not even a stray utterance or sound emanated from them. They stood before me, mere figures waiting to be maneuvered at my will. "Just as I expected," I sighed, a smirk playing on my lips.

With no further reason to linger atop the ancient pyramid, I ventured further, scouring the nearby city adjacent to the colossal structures. As I navigated through, I observed houses brimming with personal items, suggesting a history of occupancy spanning numerous years. However, there were no clear indications or clues to unveil the true story hidden within these walls.

As I continued my exploration, I realized the [Rift] bore no significant discoveries. Time was not on my side, urging me to abandon the desolate city. Reluctantly, I traversed through the fissure in space, stepping back into the familiar world once again. Despite the urgency of my exit, one prominent thought overshadowed all others, persistently nagging at my consciousness.

Earlier that very day, I had encountered a peculiar individual who had introduced themselves as Loki.

A stranger who astonishingly resembled the legendary deceitful trickster in every aspect.

A knot of unease tightened in my gut...

I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that perhaps, just perhaps, I had made a grave error.

7. Return To Order

Looking back, I really should've paid more attention to what Loki had said. There's no way a regular [Hunter] could've reached that level of power without getting on my radar at some point. I mean, I'd been deep into the underworld of criminals, seen it fall apart and then get pieced back together. Throughout all that, never once had I come across someone who seriously called themselves a god. Yeah, I've bumped into some big-headed [S-Rankers] who needed a good reality check, sure.

But not someone like Loki. The Loki I'd met wasn't just [S-Rank]. He was on my level or maybe even above it. Just hours before, I’d taken on two Egyptian gods. They were fast, alright, but I could still keep up with them. They were definitely in the [S+ Ranking] category, a touch below where I'd rank myself, but even then, I was able to match their pace without breaking a sweat.

So, when dealing with beings in my power range felt like that, what name could I give to someone who seemed leagues above?

That would be Loki.

As soon as it clicked in my mind who I was dealing with, I got out of that Egyptian [Rift]. The other [S-Rankers] on the scene were left with the job of ensuring it collapsed properly. I didn't want any surprises popping out when my back was turned. I headed back to the 5th zone to do some digging. Thankfully, everything went smooth with the [Rift]. Even with some odd [Bosses] inside, it behaved as expected. The major threats, the ones anchoring it to our world, were taken care of, and so, the [Rift] did its thing, sealing off our two realities.

Piece of cake.

However, trying to find Loki afterward? Yeah, that was another story. I had over 500 [Summons] at my beck and call. They could zip through forests and fields faster than the average eye could follow, but they came up empty. My wolves? Couldn’t pick up a whiff of Loki’s trail. My elite hunters? Couldn’t find any signs he’d passed by. The only traces left were the ones made by my own forces.

Had it not been for the vivid memory of our chat, I would've started to think I'd dreamt the whole thing. But I knew it was real. I knew Loki was out there somewhere, probably having a good laugh knowing how much he was getting under my skin. I even recalled him hinting at it during our face-off.

"He wanted to be the first one I saw, otherwise I wouldn't have the right reaction," I mumbled, plopping down on the grass. The sun was bright up above, casting its warm rays, but I hardly noticed. My thoughts raced, and the mere idea of chilling out was far from my mind. "Could he be up north?"

It seemed plausible, but honestly, I wasn’t sure I was up for leaving familiar grounds for what might be a fruitless search. I couldn’t find any trace of Loki in a spot I knew he'd been. How on earth would I find him if I had the entirety of Scandinavia to search through?

Odds weren't looking good, that's for sure. I’ve always hated cold climates, so wandering north wasn’t particularly appealing. Just soaking up some sun and reflecting on where I might've gone wrong seemed like a decent way to spend the time. I still had a few hours before my next meeting, so I had time to kill.

Pushing myself up from the grass, and thinking about giving my new recruits in the army a whirl, my phone buzzed. Pulling it out, I saw Liam’s name flashing on the screen. We’d just chatted about twenty minutes ago, where he confirmed the [Rift] situation was under control. I’d thought we were done for the day, especially since we planned to meet with Luther tomorrow. Whatever this was, it didn’t seem connected to that.

Without much hesitation, I answered, "What's up, Liam?" I was relieved not to hear chaos in the background, but the hesitation in Liam’s voice before speaking did unsettle me a bit.

"Sloan, it's starting all over again," Liam began, causing me to tense up. "No new [Rifts], but the current ones? They’re spewing out so much energy it's crazy. Our teams across every continent are reporting massive monster groups suddenly showing up. The weirdest part? They’re clashing with each other."

Against each other?

"They’re not going after the [Hunters]?" I questioned, feeling more puzzled when Liam confirmed they weren’t. It's odd; creatures were brawling amongst themselves rather than taking on their primary adversaries. But then again, it made a twisted sort of sense if they were indeed going after their true competitors. Thinking back to my earlier encounters, I mused aloud, "Anubis and Set mentioned wanting to reclaim the world. After meeting another ‘god’ today, it feels like we’re looking at simultaneous invasions from different fronts."

The idea of countless godly factions, all vying for control and determined to wipe out any competition, seemed plausible. Sure, humanity might be on their hit list to gain total dominion, but with so many [Rifts] pouring out threats, I could see these factions battling each other first, hoping to secure a foothold.

Liam's voice brought me back. "I hate to admit it, but I think you’re spot on. I wish you weren’t, but it adds up," he admitted, sounding weary for someone his age. "I’m thinking of pulling together a meeting with the guild leaders to hash out a strategy. Would you join?"

I pondered briefly before asking, "When are you thinking?"

"How about our previously scheduled time with Luther tomorrow?" Liam proposed.

I nodded, even if he couldn’t see it. "Sounds good. We can discuss the initial plan right after. Shouldn't be too challenging to fit it in."

The plan was set, and I hung up the phone, letting out a long sigh. Man, I really had been loving my break from all the chaos. Just chilling, getting in tune with nature, was something I missed. But it looked like the world wasn't ready for me to have that vacation. The joys of life seemed always to be interrupted. If I didn’t step up, humanity could crumble before my very eyes.

I knew I could defend myself; there wasn’t a shadow of doubt about that. But looking out for millions of ordinary folks, trying to live their daily lives? That felt overwhelming with my current power level. I needed to push forward.

And that meant it was time for a little experiment.

"Step forward, Anubis, Set," I called out, stretching and getting into the zone. The open field I stood in was untouched and serene, probably because most animals had chosen to steer clear of me. Perfect spot for a test run. "Let’s see how much you've really got. Were you holding back on me?"

The forms of Anubis and Set stared blankly, awaiting my command. No trace of emotion or thought, just tools, ready for a task. It wasn't something I was thrilled about, but it was what it was.

"Let’s start with you," I decided, nodding at Set. That golden staff he wielded had been a real pain in our first clash. Not just because it could potentially break every bone in my body, but also because it whipped up tons of razor-sharp sand with each move. "Give me everything you've got. Try to finish me off."

I hadn’t planned to issue it as an official [Order], but it seemed I’d done so instinctively. No worries, as the immediate effect on the [Summon] was evident. I quickly sidestepped to dodge an initial low strike from the god, then leaped backward to escape a follow-up blow.

A bit defensive for someone trying to end me. Maybe it was just Set's combat style?

But I soon realized the full scope of the attack, narrowly evading explosive geysers of sand erupting around me. The swirling sands thickened and sped up, enclosing us. It felt like I was smack in the middle of a spontaneous tornado. I struggled to keep my footing.

Being off-balance was a bad spot to be in, especially when up against a deity out for blood. While the incoming attack was pretty straightforward, and even though I saw it coming, fending it off wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

"Strength is key, isn't it?" I murmured, catching the staff mid-swing before it could connect with my body. The force nearly threw me off balance. I tensed up to absorb the impact and ensure I wasn't hurt. Seemed I still had it in me. "Keep it coming, Set."

8. Worthy Trade

I had to give it to Set; he was genuinely giving it his all, hurling out waves of sand left and right. But it just wasn’t working out for him. With me firmly gripping the staff, his main tool for summoning its side effects was pretty much out of the game. And that left Set, well, kind of in the lurch without much defense.

Me? I felt like I had all the time I needed. Shifting my dagger to my left hand, I capitalized on Set's desperate attempt to retrieve his weapon. I made it look as though I was thrown off-balance, a move which Set, the god of chaos, tried to exploit by lunging at me mid-jump. But by the time he realized my ruse, it was a tad too late.

My blade effortlessly found its home in the [Summon]’s neck, and with a swift twist and shove upwards, the entity lay defeated on the ground.

"Not too shabby," I remarked, pulling out my dagger and putting in a little effort to prop the god back up. "But you’re a touch too on the defense. You’ve got to think a few steps ahead, and seriously, mix up those attacks a bit. Take note."

Set, understanding my directives, gave a nod and stepped to one side, making way for Anubis. I was pretty certain that Anubis, the god of the dead, didn’t possess any real emotions anymore. But there was this slight hint of tension, like he was uneasy.

Or maybe that was just me reading into things. Projecting my own thoughts, perhaps?

"Alright, big guy," I directed Anubis. "Give it your best shot. Take me down."

Without wasting a moment, Anubis sprang into action. Unlike Set, who started off with some defense, Anubis seemed way more focused on a quick and lethal strike. That beam of pure, consuming darkness came darn close to doing the job.

I sidestepped, acting purely on instinct, and I could swear a few of my hairs got singed just by the sheer force of that attack. It was a power move, no doubt, and anyone caught off-guard might not have stood a chance. But after that initial onslaught, Anubis seemed to have expended a lot of his energy. It was a risky all-or-nothing kind of move, especially if it didn't hit the target.

But it’s not like Anubis was entirely out of options after that. In fact, the surroundings started to morph, with the grass and everything nearby taking on that deep, abyssal black hue from earlier. Nothing seemed to wither or die instantly, but it was evident that Anubis had dominion over it all. The sense of impending danger, the tiny black tendrils creeping up from the grass, and the realization that I’d probably be in a world of hurt if I dared to step on any of it.

What caught my attention the most was how this dark spread didn’t seem to stop or slow down. As moments passed, it just kept expanding. It made sense for a being slightly above [S-Rank] to have such capabilities. Turning an entire field into a potential weapon, all under the control of one entity, was impressive. Sure, I could still launch long-range attacks, but with such an extensive area to cover, most would see them coming from far away.

But there was one tiny issue with all of this.

[Mana]

1815/2160

I could feel my [Mana] depleting at an alarming rate, dropping considerably with every passing moment. As the god of the dead's zone of control expanded, the decline in my [Mana] became even more rapid. Nothing was really getting destroyed or directly attacked, but the sheer maintenance cost of this safety barrier was skyrocketing. I could almost visualize the counter, with it being nearly 100 Mana every second.

"You had good reason to keep that field's size in check back in the day," I mused aloud. I had always prided myself on having more energy than many of my peers, mainly because a lot of them put their stakes in [Physical Attributes]. If it weren’t for the task of overseeing my battalion of [Summons], I'd probably have struggled big time to shoulder the [Mana] expenses that such an ability demanded. "So, you're saying I'd be toast within roughly 20 seconds if you go full throttle with this, right?"

However, there was a potential silver lining. If activated in the midst of foes, I could turn to [Mana-Bleed] to siphon energy from each defeated enemy. Depending on the might of the vanquished creatures, there was a chance I'd end up with a [Mana] surplus. But how feasible this was hinged greatly on the given circumstances.

Could it secure an area for a solid 30 seconds? Absolutely. But maintaining that control without leaving me without any of my [Summons] to aid me? That was a tougher call.

"It’s got its uses, but it’s pretty specific to certain situations," I assessed, gesturing for the deity to deactivate the field before I was drained completely. "Look, don’t go trying to whittle down all my [Mana] before making your move. Fight me straight up."

I thought I caught a flicker of something - maybe an emotion - when I spoke those words. But then I shrugged it off, maybe I was just overlaying my own feelings on the matter. It could get pretty monotonous dealing with emotionless [Summons].

But give them credit where it's due, they did know their way around a fight. Even with Anubis's primary strategy taken off the table, he didn’t miss a beat. He fired a thinner ray of death in my direction, which I nimbly evaded.

However, it didn’t just vanish in the next second. Instead, the inky darkness clumped together, spawning tendrils right around my position. They lunged at me, taking me off guard to the point where a few managed to make contact with my armor and my neck.

Ouch.

I backpedaled quickly, evading their further advance. But I had to hand it to him; that was a neat trick up his sleeve. The spots on my skin where the tendrils touched felt like they were on fire, and my armor showed signs of wear and tear. I had to say, I was slightly impressed. This challenge was shaping up to be quite something.

I felt a slow smile forming on my face, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. Even though my earlier directive about creativity hadn't been directed at Anubis specifically, he had obviously taken it to heart. More dark tendrils surged upwards from the ground, attempting to entangle me. But I was always a step ahead, nimbly evading their reach.

I sensed it was the right moment to turn the tables on the god of the death.

As I made my move, charging forward, the inky black expanse seemed eager to stretch out, trying to cut off any solid ground for me. But I wasn’t really fazed by that. Its effort wasn’t about sapping my energy for the win. Yet, its inability to spread evenly in every direction? That was a clear oversight.

Feinting a swift jump to the left, Anubis, predictably, tried to expand his field to that side to counteract my maneuver. He had committed too much to this expansion, leaving him vulnerable. Seizing the moment, I quickly darted to the right.

Anubis tried to stop my advance, but he had overextended his field in the opposite direction. Retracting it to mount a defense against me took him precious seconds. By the time he tried to react, my dagger was already embedded deep in his forehead.

"Nice try, but you need to step up your game," I remarked, pulling my blade out of the deity's jackal-like head. A jolt of energy helped Anubis regain his stance, seemingly unbothered by his momentary defeat. "You need to anticipate my moves better. While you surpassed Set in creativity, both of you falter when facing someone of your own caliber."

They might fare well against numerous lesser foes, but I had genuine concerns about how they'd stand up against formidable enemy [Rifts]. The mightiest of adversaries would eventually show themselves. And when that happened, I needed to have unwavering faith in the prowess of my army.

"Alright, round two," I declared, taking a few minutes to let my [Mana] replenish. "This time, I want both of you coming at me. Give it your all."

Training against a formidable opponent was the best preparation. I had no qualms about battling for my very survival over the next few hours. The vast expanse around us, a region untouched by man for decades, might have been transformed into a vast crater when it was all said and done. But in my eyes, this was a necessary sacrifice. After all, what's one ravaged area compared to the potential devastation of our entire world if we weren’t adequately prepared?

In my mind, it was undoubtedly a worthy trade-off.

9. Away From Duty

The hours seemed to fly by, almost unnoticed, as the intensity of our training continued. I only realized how much time had passed when I noticed the sun's descent towards the horizon. With the sun hidden behind some hills, I finally took a moment to check my phone. I found two messages from Sara, inquiring about my whereabouts.

We had made plans to meet at her place, and by my reckoning, I was already thirty minutes late.

Oh crap.

Without hesitation, I quickly dismissed the two Egyptian gods, shoving them into my shadow, and summoned Timor, my trusted drake, to take their place. Inside my shadow realm, Timor had been cozily napping his afternoon away. Despite the abrupt summons, the rush of adrenaline seemed to awaken the [Summon].

"Enough with the grumbling. If you want both of us to make it out of this situation in one piece, you'll comply," I sternly told the drake, which promptly ceased its growling. I climbed onto its back, and with a powerful flap of its vast wings, we ascended into the sky. "Fly high, just below the radar, so we remain undetected."

Timor, knowing the repercussions of any slip-ups, obeyed my command diligently. My mind raced with thoughts of Sara, probably scanning the sky from her restaurant's viewpoint. I had to zoom past her location and reach my place without being noticed.

Over time, she had come to terms with my [Hunter] occupation. However, she had strictly forbidden me from stepping into her eatery in my combat attire. This stemmed partly from her dislike for the rugged look and mostly from the mishap when I had unwittingly smeared giant-ant guts all over her stone floor.

The memory of scrubbing the stone clean remained fresh in my mind. Even my offer to refurbish the entire place hadn't saved me from that labor.

"I really can't afford to get into any more scrapes right now," I whispered to myself, as Timor smoothly landed atop my apartment building's roof. Situated near the city's heart, the building was in a posh locality where the sight of a creature soaring above was nonchalant. Plus, its towering stature ensured ground dwellers overlooked the drake. "Stay put here, Timor. I need to head inside to change."

While Timor readily settled in for a short nap, I leaped off the stairway's railing, free-falling for a few floors before stopping at the right one. I sprinted down the corridor, unlocked my door, and quickly made my way inside.

The realization hit me hard. My apartment was a mess, with unwashed clothes strewn everywhere. It was evident that I hardly used the place for anything other than occasional rest, especially given my frequent excursions into the 5th zone lately.

"This has to change," I told myself. "With everything happening around, I can't afford this chaos."

Scanning the scant collection of clean clothes in my drawer, I quickly ditched my armor and threw on the least dirty garments I could find. A bath would have been ideal, but I hoped the wind during our fast flight had managed to blow off most of the grime from me.

I couldn't spot much dirt on my clothes, so with a sense of reassurance, I believed everything would turn out alright.

I dashed up the stairs, finding Timor and prepared for immediate takeoff. Gripping the drake's back firmly, a gentle nudge propelled us above the hovering clouds, shielding us from view. For a swift five minutes, we glided undetected before gradually descending towards the vicinity of the restaurant. A pang of guilt hit me as I spotted Sara standing by the side entrance, indulging in a cigarette while patiently waiting for my arrival.

As I signaled for Timor to retract back into my shadow, I leaped gracefully down into the alleyway. Sara didn't turn her attention towards me immediately, instead choosing to consult her phone.

"You're exactly 35 minutes late," she remarked calmly, tucking her phone back into her pocket. Her face didn't show signs of anger, just a sort of expected disappointment. "Normally, you're around 20 minutes late. Anything significant that happened to delay you further?"

Was my lateness that glaringly obvious?

With a rueful smile, I admitted, "You have an uncanny ability to read me." Sara remained unfazed, taking another leisurely puff of her cigarette before letting the smoke drift away into the evening air. "Well, today was quite the day, to say the least. I encountered someone who might as well have been Loki, the notorious god of mischief himself. Following that, I got embroiled in a critical mission to rescue a squad of [S-Ranker] warriors in Egypt. There, it seemed two gods from the local pantheon were in the midst of summoning another deity with grand plans to reshape the world to their desires."

Seeing the look on Sara's face, it was clear she wasn't too pleased.

"Well, that seems like a pretty solid reason for you to step back a bit in the future," Sara remarked with a hint of sarcasm, tossing her cigarette down and firmly grinding it under her boot. "It's just too much pressure and stress to place on one single person, you know?"

With that, she held open the door to her restaurant, signaling for me to come inside.

"But if I don't step up and handle these things, who else will?" I responded, thinking about the countless times we'd had similar discussions before. After the whole ordeal with the [Demon King] had come to an end, Sara had hoped for us to settle into a quieter life. She'd often say that humanity didn't really need my constant intervention anymore. "But, there's a silver lining. There's only a limited number of [Rifts] left. Once they're all closed, we won't have to worry about them. Plus, with the monsters fighting amongst themselves, there's a decent possibility we might not need to do much on our end."

She whispered back, "Seems like even more reason for you to distance yourself from it all." Opening another door, we entered the dining section of the restaurant. Since it wasn’t quite dinner rush, the place wasn't packed yet. "Sam, could you whip up two of the daily specials?"

A cheerful voice responded, "You got it, boss!" I glimpsed a youthful face for a moment from behind the counter. The young worker, probably around 20, had vibrant blonde hair and moved with such energy and zest – something hard to maintain as years go by. "Jeff, we need five more slabs on the grill!"

Muffled voices emerged from the kitchen, even though I couldn't see anyone. I estimated about four people working there, a bit more than the last time I had visited.

Seeing this, I couldn't help but remark with a light-hearted tone, "Seems like you're finally letting others handle the heavier responsibilities of the daily restaurant grind, huh?" Memories flooded back of the times she had been so particular about every single detail. I vividly remembered her insistence on the perfect sandwich - from how each ingredient should settle into the bread, to the exact proportions, to the precise timing of each step in the process.

Sara was truly meticulous about her work. Anyone who dared stray from her method would instantly earn her wrath. Some might've seen her approach towards her staff as a bit extreme, but even I, Sloan, had to admit that her dishes were nothing short of masterpieces. Even after she showed me all the tricks of the trade, and I helped her with the preparation, I just couldn't match her skill level. She was blessed with magic in her fingers when it came to cooking.

Or perhaps, just maybe, her intense gaze forced the dishes into perfection out of pure fear. That could be it too.

Considering it a bit more, I thought, that's definitely a possibility.

With a sigh, Sara voiced her thoughts, "This place is getting busier by the day, and honestly, I can't be everywhere in that kitchen all the time." She paused briefly before adding, "It's the cost of success, I guess. And well, age isn't exactly on my side these days either."

I inquired, "Is it your back giving you trouble again?"

Laughing lightly, she answered, "Yep, the result of leaning over counters, chopping vegetables for two decades." I noticed there wasn't a hint of bitterness in her voice about the toll time had taken. It seemed more like she had come to terms with the natural process of aging. "These days, I'm mostly present in the kitchen during the mornings. Seems like I've managed to drive off a good number of folks in the afternoons."

The idea of Sara intimidating others? I had no trouble believing that. If her mere presence could make someone like me, an [S-Ranked Hunter], a tad uneasy, I could only imagine the kind of impact she'd have on regular folks.

Nothing good, that's for sure.

"I've managed to carve out some free time most days," I chimed in. While there was always the looming possibility of being summoned to tackle a sudden crisis, such instances were likely to be infrequent. The teams dedicated to dealing with the [Rifts] had been remarkably efficient lately. Sure, there might be times when my expertise would be essential, but it probably wouldn't be an everyday occurrence. After all, the world only had so many problems, and the [Hunters] could only attend to so many emergencies in a week. "What do you say we hang out somewhere other than here for a change?"

She pondered for a moment before admitting, "A break from this place, even if just for a few hours, sounds pretty refreshing." This restaurant was practically her entire world. While I knew she had her morning shopping routines, her home was just a floor above, and she hardly ventured elsewhere. Most of her acquaintances and friends usually came to see her. "It's been ages since I visited an actual city park. Not talking about those wild adventures you embark on. I mean a simple, peaceful park."

"I need you to understand that those multi-day forest trips are actually really relaxing for me, helps me reconnect with nature" I responded with a hint of playfulness. Yet, her look told me she wasn't entirely convinced. "But a city park? I can totally do that. Though, I’ll be honest, I’m not exactly sure where to find one."

Honestly, beyond knowing the major city landmarks, I didn’t pay too much attention to what lay within them. Endless rows of structures and buildings didn't capture my interest.

"There’s actually a park in the 6th zone. I haven’t been there myself since it used to be restricted to hunters until Liam took charge," Sara shared. I tried to recall any memories or info about the place. Back in the day, Dominion had control of it, promoting it as an untouched oasis. But knowing their leader, Cellica Vigil—famously known as the angel for her stunning looks but infamous for her high-handed, jealous demeanor—it was probably not as great as advertised. "I’ve genuinely wanted to visit there for a while."

"Well, why wait then? Let’s go," I suggested enthusiastically. We settled on reconnecting in a few days. I would've loved to meet up the very next day, but anticipated meetings with Liam and others would probably stretch out. "We certainly don’t want to keep pushing things."

"Sure, if only you’d make an effort to dress a bit more... decently," she retorted playfully, making me raise an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Seriously, how long did you take to wear that outfit?"

I hesitated for a second and then confessed, "Roughly twenty seconds?"

"Maybe next time aim for thirty? And perhaps consider a shower," she teased with a smirk.

I felt a tad defensive and was ready to jest about the challenges of a ‘regular’ life. However, the vibration of my phone cut me off. As much as I wanted to ignore it, I knew I couldn't. Sara, perceptive as always, headed over to pick up our order, giving me a brief moment of privacy.

It was Liam. Again.

"You've been ringing me up quite a lot today," I observed, answering the call. Glancing outside, the setting sun was nearly out of sight. "Isn’t it a bit late? Is this something that can’t wait until tomorrow?"

"It's not super urgent, but I felt you should know now rather than later," Liam's voice had a hint of concern. "The guild heads' meeting is being postponed. There's something happening in the Atlantic."

"The Atlantic? As in, the ocean?" I quizzed, and Liam’s affirmation made me even more curious. "What’s emerging? Another [Rift]?"

"Sort of," he replied cautiously. "It's connected to... an island."

"That doesn't sound too concerning."

"It’s Atlantis, Sloan," Liam's voice held a weight I hadn't detected earlier. My eyes widened in realization. "The real Atlantis."

Seeing Sara approach with our meals and drinks, I made a swift decision. "I’ll circle back with you in the morning," I assured Liam. "Currently, something else demands my attention."

After ensuring Liam understood, I hung up and turned my full attention to Sara, who looked intrigued. As I relayed the information, her expression shifted to a mix of wonder and slight disappointment.

"You’re telling me the resurrection of a legendary city doesn't pique your interest?" I teased while taking a bite from my meal, which was, unsurprisingly, impeccable.

"It’s a good topic for some casual chat," she agreed. "But with all these mythical entities popping up, it feels a bit clichéd. How many more are going to just emerge out of the blue?"

I honestly had no clue. And at that moment, I chose not to dwell on it. My present, sitting right across from me, meant more to me than any unpredictable future event.

10. Beyond An Abyss

I had initially planned on making the journey to the Atlantic by flying there myself. In my mind, it was the clear choice. Timor seemed completely ready and even eager for some hours of soaring the skies. Honestly, it felt like the drake was almost pleading with me to give him the opportunity. However, things just didn't align as I'd hoped. As fate would have it, Liam wasn’t quite on board with my idea of embarking on this mission solo.

Instead, I found myself surrounded by a team. This group consisted of a dozen [Hunters], all standing at the pinnacle of [S-Rank]. Each one of these 12 had been committed since the very beginning, dedicating themselves to making the world a more livable place. Liam confidently told me that these were the people who could step up if ever the need arose.

I guess time would tell.

I had to admit, our mode of transport wasn’t bad at all. I wasn't sure about all the enhancements the engineers had added to the helicopter, but it sure could speed across the ocean impressively. It wasn't quite at Timor's level, but it was getting close.

"Initially, a trip like this would've taken the entire day," Ulrich noted. He sat next to me, and together we admired the clouds swiftly passing beneath us. The other [S-Rankers] sat a little deeper inside, firmly strapped to their seats and consciously avoiding the sight out of the open doors. Even though they could have survived a fall from this altitude, the sheer drop below made a few of them uneasy. I really couldn’t grasp why they felt that way. "We'd reach our destination only by sunset. This forced us to quickly master the art of nighttime combat."

"You could have simply opted out of such journeys," I remarked, which earned me a slightly puzzled expression from Ulrich. "Was someone forcing you into this?"

Ulrich shook his head, "No external pressure, no. The choice to confront those monsters was purely our own," he stated. "For us, it's a duty to ensure the world remains safe. We feel this inner compulsion because… well, it's quite a tale."

"We have quite some time," I said, hinting at our long flight.

He gave a nod of agreement. "I suppose you're aware that nearly all of the world’s [S-Rankers] united to combat the [Demon King] about six months ago. It was a brutal fight. We saw countless heroes fall, many renowned figures perishing."

I remembered it all too well. I hadn’t witnessed much firsthand since I and a select few had sneaked into the enemy fortress with the goal of taking down their leader. This meant my main exposure was to the aftermath, the gruesome sight of a minor force clashing with a much larger army.

Ulrich continued, "Myself and many others now in this unit were part of the reserves. We were the backup, ready to jump in and aid those facing overwhelming pressure. The job seemed simple and relatively safe, offering us the chance to just... remain on the sidelines."

"You struggled with the thought of staying idle while others took on the real battles, didn’t you?" I probed.

He looked down, a distant expression in his eyes. "The true weight of it all only dawned on us when we were tasked with returning the fallen to their families. Knowing that our involvement could have reduced the casualties... that’s a heavy burden. So, when word spread that volunteers were needed to clean up the lingering threats, signing up felt like the right thing. It was a more honorable path than making those who already battled hard feel compelled to pick up arms again."

"That's a pretty honorable way of thinking, I've got to admit," I found myself saying. Maybe there was something to consider about me keeping a low profile that could actually be seen as not paying due respect to those who had lost their lives.

Sara, had she been here, might've given me a slap for entertaining such thoughts, but I had to acknowledge that the idea did have some merit to it. Whether or not my choice was the best one, the fact remained that I was here now, in this situation. I was here along with people who were trying to atone for what they felt were their past mistakes.

"Activity in the water detected!"

The sudden announcement echoed from the onboard speakers, probably coming from someone inside the cockpit. It was a bit hard to be sure, what with the growing level of noise filling the air around us. The sound of the helicopter blades was now nearly drowned out by a much deeper, more unsettling rumbling coming from the depths below.

Almost simultaneously, the clouds started to part, as if pushed aside to allow us a clearer view of the vast ocean below. For the past hour or so, it had been nothing but calm waters, maybe with a couple of waves creating some foam on the surface. But now, the scene had changed dramatically.

We were looking at a gigantic whirlpool, one so huge it could swallow entire cities. And it was expanding, both in width and depth. For a brief moment, I thought maybe it could be some natural phenomenon, but even the least experienced [Hunter] among us could feel the ominous energy emanating from those swirling waters. This was no act of nature; this was the work of a monster.

"Should've known a leviathan would decide to make its grand entrance," Ulrich noted, getting back on his feet. As for me, my shadow began to spread and my eyes turned a glowing purple. The summons within me were practically screaming for a fight, and I could sense the palpable fear spreading among the other occupants of the chopper. "So, do you want us to help you tackle this thing or--"

"I think I can handle this one by myself," I quickly interrupted before anyone could get any misguided ideas. Some of the other [Hunters] had already begun unbuckling their seat belts and were starting to glow with various colored energies, but I put a stop to that. "I'm guessing not too many of you have expertise in deep-water combat, right?"

In response, most of the [Hunters] stayed notably silent.

Well, most, but not all.

"I'm a water mage!" piped up a voice from the back. She was a young woman, likely in her early twenties, with brown-and-blue hair and a youthful face. She wore light armor and seemed to hold more magical power than most in our group. "I've had my fair share of battles against big aquatic creatures too."

My eyes shifted downward, peering into the swirling abyss below. I caught a glimpse of our target's body emerging from the depths. To call it 'big' would be selling it short. If someone had told me this was the serpent destined to coil itself around the Earth, I wouldn't have been too shocked. The thing had to be several hundred meters in length, with a dragon-like head and scales so large you could probably construct a house on each one. And those golden eyes staring up at us—this monster was far from stupid.

"Do you think you can actually survive against that massive thing down there, all on your own?" I questioned her, as she walked over to the edge of the chopper to get a better look at the monstrosity below us.

"No?" She responded with a bit of hesitation in her voice. "But, the thing is, I won't be fighting it alone, so I don't think it'll be a problem!"

You know what? Screw it.

"That's good enough for me," I decided, placing my hand on her shoulder and then giving us both a little nudge, pushing us out of the helicopter. A brief, startled scream escaped from her lips as we descended, landing securely on the back of Timor. My trusty drake allowed us to settle ourselves before he began his downward glide towards the awaiting enemy below. We'd be right on top of them in just about a minute. "So, what's your name?"

It took her a moment to regain her composure, catching her breath. Initially, I thought maybe she was a bit scared, but then I saw the grin that spread across her face. Nope, no fear there. She was all pumped up and filled with excitement.

"Jade," she answered, crouching down to feel Timor's scales with her hand. My drake seemed instinctively uncomfortable with the stranger touching him and looked like he wanted to shake her off. But I managed to get him under control before any of that could happen. "How fast can this big guy fly?"

"Way faster than either of us would probably want to test right now, I'd guess," I replied. At that moment, I began summoning various other creatures that were capable of flying independently while also launching ranged attacks. Gods like Zeus and Athena seemed up for the task. They stood on clouds or metal platforms, hurling out lightning bolts and other assorted weapons. The attacks that made direct contact with the leviathan's scales didn't seem to do much, but those that found their way into openings caused some noticeable, audible reverberations from the beast. "So, how close do we need to be for you to make your attack?"

By now, we were hovering about a hundred meters above the water, positioned dead-center over the enormous whirlpool below us. Some of the stronger currents clashed with each other, and tiny droplets of water were now splashing up, reaching us.

"This distance should be close enough," Jade confirmed, clearing her throat before raising her arms up high. "Oriri ex profundis!"

11. Deeper Depths

An incredible surge of energy shot through the air in a flash, striking down into the swirling water like a bolt of lightning. The water roiled and churned as the maelstrom itself started to pulse, its swirling patterns shifting and going wild. Clearly, Jade's magic was messing with the system that the leviathan had set in motion. From the outer edges of the whirlpool, water tendrils began to form, inching closer and closer toward the center before finally making contact with the serpent's tough body.

It should have been a losing battle, pure water clashing against scales harder than any metal. But the outcome was different; it was nothing short of astonishing. The leviathan let out a furious roar as the streams of water managed to pierce through its nearly impenetrable armor. Its gigantic body thrashed about wildly in the agitated waters below us.

I thought to myself, not bad at all.

Seems like the leviathan picked up on my thoughts somehow, because its enormous pupils locked onto our position above it. Our steady glide atop the beast suddenly didn't seem like such a smart move. Its jaws unhinged in a terrifying manner, its head lunging straight toward us. If we let it get close enough, we would be swallowed up in an instant.

Nope, not gonna happen. I leapt off Timor's back and quickly instructed him to dodge the incoming attack. I shouted a brief order at Jade, telling her to hold onto the flying [Summon]. I was pretty sure she heard me as I turned my full attention to handling the leviathan from that point on.

Jade had done a good job testing the beast's defenses, but now it was time for the real showdown. I pulled my [Shade] from its place within my shadow, using it as a kind of springboard to catapult myself away from the leviathan's immediate attack path. I wasn't completely out of the danger zone, but I managed to get my hand and dagger to latch onto the side of the massive creature.

The immediate impulse was to start attacking from that position, but I remembered the intelligence I'd sensed in its eyes earlier. While it had never shown any signs of it, I wondered: Could I possibly communicate with this thing?

There was only one way to find out for sure.

With a bit of effort, I dug my dagger and fingers into the tough scale armor of the monster and started climbing, eventually reaching its face. When its pupil shifted to focus right on me, it was clear as day that the beast knew I was there.

"Before you decide to do anything aggressive, is there any chance we could have a chat?" I asked as politely as I could. I noticed the leviathan started slowing down its movements, which I hoped was a good sign, even though I could still feel the rumble from its massive body. "Look, I really don't want to fight unless it's absolutely necessary. Can you speak?"

It didn't answer with spoken words, but I suddenly felt a weird pressure building up inside my skull. Was this [Telepathy]? It didn't feel like an attack, so I let it in.

'Hello?' I ventured in my mind. A torrent of images instantly flooded back in response. I saw the world from the beast's perspective, everything tinted in a strange grey scale, and I felt the sensation of everything in the water within a radius of many kilometers. The full array of sensations from its body hit me all at once, and I had to exert some effort to keep my focus. 'Could you maybe use words instead?'

'Yes,' the answer came back to me. The voice was weird, really weird. It wasn't a single voice but a blend, like hundreds of different voices had been chopped up and mashed together. It wasn't really cohesive at all. 'Who are you?'

'Sloan Park,' I replied without hesitating. When it poked around my mind, wanting to know more about what that name meant, I willingly gave it the rundown. I explained the modern concept of humans, how we functioned as [Hunters], how it was a rarity for monsters to speak, and that I really didn't want to fight unless it was absolutely necessary. 'Can I ask you something? Why did you make this swirling maelstrom? Was it meant to hurt us?'

'No,' the leviathan responded quite clearly. 'It's easier to summon family that way.'

Family? What?

Before I even had the chance to voice my question, another wave of images bombarded my mind. This time, it was memories. I saw that the leviathan in front of me wasn't alone. There were dozens, no, hundreds more like it. Some were just as big, some even bigger. I didn't even know what to call this kind of situation.

What really bothered me was when I stumbled upon the creature's thoughts about the helicopters above us. It sensed magical beings on board, and that made them the perfect snack for those that would soon be entering our world.

Yeah, I couldn't let that happen.

'Is there any peaceful way to get you to stop summoning more of your kind?' I asked, while at the same time allowing my [Mana] to start flowing more strongly into the physical world. My army had a mission, and any more delays wouldn't be good.

'No,' said the leviathan, much to my dismay. 'The king demands a larger army. We must obey.'

'The king? What king are you talking about?'

'The king of the ocean, the true god who will rule over everything in this forgotten world,' it answered.

Just as I processed those words, I felt the leviathan's body start to tremble even more than before. It was a clear sign, a sign that it was gathering power for something big. I reacted as fast as I could, directing every strong warrior I had to start tearing through the monster's tough scales to reach its vulnerable flesh. But the leviathan was already making its move. Its tail, hidden beneath the wild waves, whipped out in a long arc aimed at knocking everyone off its body. I was ready for it, though. I managed to pull back parts of my army that I could get a hold of and leapt into the air to dodge that enormous tail. Some weren't so lucky; they got smashed, costing me a good chunk of my [Mana] for their repairs. It was a heavy blow to my reserves, but one that I could manage if I initiated my own counter-attack soon.

Shiva was my first choice. Her fangs were coated in deadly poison, and she had an extreme desire to tear this huge serpent to pieces. In an impressively destructive show of power, she managed to rip out one of the beast's eyes. Even when the monster thrashed around in pain, she continued to dig deeper into its skull.

'Stop, stop, stop—' the leviathan tried to communicate to me. I had to cut it off. Its screams in the physical realm were so loud that they made my ears start to bleed. The volume was too much, causing some of my weaker troops to waver and fade away. I pulled those who fell back into the shadows; I couldn't afford such a drain on my resources right now.

Even worse than all that was the frantic shouting coming from above me. It wasn't from Timor, or from Jade who was currently riding on the drake. No, the commotion was coming from inside the helicopter, which seemed like it was beginning to have some technical issues. It's crazy how loud noises could mess things up that badly.

Reacting quickly, I sent three of my harpies up to deal with the situation. I ordered them to grab hold of the helicopter and prevent the [S-rankers] on board from falling into the ocean below. If anyone plunged into those waters, the leviathan would have an easy time making a meal of them, no matter how strong they might be.

Just as I was thinking along those lines, the leviathan decided it was time for a dive. Problem was, I was still clinging onto its face. Definitely not the most ideal place to be as we crashed into the turbulent surface of the maelstrom.

The recent upgrades to my strength were just barely enough to help me maintain my grip on this monstrous creature. The challenge intensified as it continued to dive deeper and deeper into the water. It looked like the leviathan had switched its priorities from summoning its family to just surviving. I tried not to dwell on it too much. I simply held on tight while Shiva continued her relentless assault, gnawing through the leviathan's skull. Amidst the echoing screams that vibrated through the water, attempting to liquify my internal organs, the distinct crunching sounds of Shiva's attacks were clearly audible. My [Summon] was a force to be reckoned with, and she was making that abundantly clear.

Air, or the lack of it, became another glaring issue as we kept plunging deeper and deeper. The sunlight above was fading away, unable to penetrate the increasing depths. The leviathan might have only a few minutes left to live, but the same could be said for both Shiva and me. While the creature could breathe underwater, we didn't have that advantage. This was turning into a war of attrition, and it was one I knew we weren't going to win in the long run.

Up above, I sensed that my army had successfully prevented the others from falling into the ocean. They were safe. And since the leviathan couldn't continue its summoning efforts, the level of threat had reduced significantly. We had a [Rift] that needed our attention more urgently now.

I hoped our paths would never cross again.

12. Past Consequences

I gave the order for Shiva to retreat back into my shadow and I let go of my grip on the leviathan's rough scales. For a brief moment, the swirling waters around me caused me to spin in a chaotic manner. However, it only took me a few seconds to regain control of myself. The massive beast didn’t seem to care enough about me to halt its dive, and it continued on its way into the endless abyss, effectively leaving me and everyone above the surface free from any immediate danger.

Honestly, that was probably the best outcome. With strong, determined pushes of my limbs, I began my steady ascent back to the surface. My enhanced physical abilities definitely helped speed up the process. In under a minute, I broke through the surface and took in a deep, life-giving breath of air for the first time in what felt like forever. My lungs felt like they were thanking me, and my pulse started to return back to its normal levels. Just then, Timor flew by and grabbed hold of me. Jade was still riding on top of him, looking like she was having the time of her life. The other [S-Rankers] were being carried to safety by other flying members of my army.

"You might want to grow a bit larger," I suggested to Timor as we continued flying. Obediently, Timor's back started to stretch out and lengthen. I could feel a bit of my [Mana] being drained away during this transformation, but it was a necessary sacrifice to make room for the other dozen [Hunters] to sit comfortably on his back. "And here Liam thought you wouldn't be big enough for everyone."

"I must say, Sloan, this is an exceptionally good way to travel," Ulrich commented, comfortably sitting on Timor’s growing back as we soared through the skies, way above the clouds. "Did you manage to finish off that monster? I noticed its presence disappeared a minute ago."

"It's most likely still alive," I responded. "The creature made its escape, and I had to pull back as well to catch my breath."

"That sounds like a reasonable reason to retreat," the lightning mage supposed, and others chimed in with similar thoughts.

After another fifteen minutes or so went by, we spent most of that time letting the sun dry us off. But in the last few moments, our eyes were focused on the distant horizon. Towers made of shimmering gold started to become visible. After all this time and effort, our final destination was finally in sight.

The leviathan had failed to stop us. We were approaching Atlantis, the long-lost city of immense wealth, and we could see the gigantic [Rift] looming ominously below it.

*****

I had to admit, looking at it now; the lost city of Atlantis was pretty breathtaking. Only the top portions of the city were poking up above the water's surface, while most of the streets and buildings along the edges remained submerged under the relentless waves. What was still easily visible, though, was the enormous [Rift] from where everything seemed to be originating. Even under the clear, bright daylight, the surge of green light emanating from that tear in the fabric of space was glaringly obvious. Its humongous size made it all the more noticeable. After all, this whole city was basically spewing out from that [Rift].

If I wanted to sever the connection between the two worlds, I'd have to venture inside that [Rift]. It sounded simple enough, right? But the reality was that the entities who had already crossed over to our world would probably not let that happen so easily.

"It seems like your part of the job starts here," I commented, my eyes scanning over the hundreds of spear-wielding warriors that were waiting below us. Each of them had blue skin, fish-like heads, and a very evident aura of bloodlust surrounding them. These guys had no interest in a civil discussion, no rational thoughts—just a primal urge to spill the guts of the [Hunters]. "You think you can keep them busy while I head inside?"

"As long as you give us more than a few minutes, yeah, we can handle it," Ulrich responded. He got confirming nods from the rest of the crew. I noticed Jade's eyes were lighting up more and more. I guessed that fighting in water, her element, would probably make this battle a whole lot easier for her. Maybe not so much for Ulrich, our lightning mage. "You sure about going into that [Rift] all by yourself? Considering that the giant serpent was just an average enemy, the [Boss] is likely going to be a real pain."

"I've got this," I assured them. If the Egyptian gods hadn't given me too much trouble, then the Greek ones shouldn't either. I'd already clashed with Zeus, Demeter, Athena, and several others, who were now under my command. So, there weren't many more gods left in that pantheon for me to face off against. "Just focus on staying alive more than killing them. If you keep them occupied, I'll deal with the [Boss] and make my way back to you."

"Understood," Ulrich said, steadying himself as Timor started to glide closer toward the golden city below us. Our moment had arrived. We were breaking through the clouds, and the mermen warriors below us were shrieking for our blood. This was gearing up to be a battle for the ages. "We'll be waiting for your return, Sloan."

Giving a nod to Ulrich and the others, I leapt off Timor's back, descending toward the water. A volley of tridents and spears were hurled my way, but either I dodged them or deflected them easily using my dagger. With that done, I pierced through the surface of the water and began swimming toward the glowing green [Rift], which was about 20 meters below.

A bunch of those creatures tried to chase after me, but before they could even get close, hands made out of water appeared and grabbed them. That was probably Jade's doing; I could hear her laughter in the background as the water hands crushed those warriors in their grip.

Man, she was fearsome.

When I reached out to touch the green [Rift], my hand made contact with its edge, and I pulled the rest of my body through the fracture in space. Initially, I thought I'd end up in more water and maybe have to fight underwater or something. But what I encountered was entirely different. Instead of battling underwater currents, I found myself falling through the air towards the ground. Surprisingly, the entire city was free of the ocean's salty waters. Sure, there were beaches on the surrounding island, but the presence of trees, bushes, and general wildlife told me that this place hadn't sunk into the ocean like the myths suggested.

It was a fascinating discovery, but I couldn't afford to waste time admiring nature. A shout quickly drew my attention toward a castle that sat near the ocean. In front of it, an army of a thousand warriors was gathering. These guys had blue skin, but interestingly, they didn't have fish-like heads. They had gills on their necks, but other than that, they looked pretty much human.

"I wish you guys could be reasoned with," I muttered under my breath as I summoned my own army to face off against the charging warriors. A swarm of golden wolves burst forth from my shadow, sprinting full speed at the enemies armed with swords, spears, and axes. Their blades couldn't really do much against the thick, shining fur of my wolves, and in no time, throats and guts were getting ripped apart at an incredible pace. Each of these wolves was worth their weight in gold, literally.

However, things took a turn when one of the warriors' weapons began to glow brighter than normal steel should. The fight instantly became more intense. That bright shining blade cut through the golden fur like it was nothing. Hairs floated to the ground, a low whimper echoed through the air, and I felt a significant chunk of my [Mana] deplete—repairing them wasn't cheap.

Seeing the effectiveness of that shining blade, the remaining five hundred warriors were quick to follow suit. All of a sudden, my golden wolves weren't as intimidating as before, so I had to pull out some more extreme measures.

"Mages, ranged, and... let's also bring out Shiva," I commanded, allowing another 50 members of my army to emerge. Red-skinned demons instantly started launching fireballs, archers released piercing arrows, and Shiva, my trusty serpent, started crashing through the enemy lines. The advantage of being so massive was that while a sword or spear could pierce her scales, they weren't long enough to reach anything vital. So Shiva could freely charge through, crush, and bite whoever she pleased without taking any fatal hits.

With my ranged units breaking up any clusters of enemies, this became the perfect strategy to take down the remaining 500 warriors. A few tried to go after those who preferred attacking from a distance, but I personally took care of those nuisances. Having access to extra energy from [Mana-Bleed] came in handy. I had a feeling I'd need all the energy I could get for the next part of this battle.

I could really feel the energy swirling around in the air as I got closer and closer to that big castle by the sea. When I finally arrived at its entrance, I saw that it extended beyond the beach, propped up by these huge pillars that allowed it to sit just above the ocean waves. Man, it was a remarkable piece of architecture, for sure. But it also clued me in on who I was about to face in the upcoming fight.

Deciding it was time, I pulled my entire army back into my shadow and then pushed open the massive castle doors. The first things to greet me, positioned just outside what seemed to be the throne room, were two giant statues. They kinda reminded me of the ones I'd encountered in the last [Rift] where I'd had to deal with Greek gods. But these statues were ten times bigger and, thank goodness, they didn't move. However, I could still feel an aura of power radiating from them; they were definitely alive in some sense. Either they chose not to attack me or they were ordered not to.

Most likely, they had been ordered not to attack, probably by the dude sitting on the throne in the next room.

"So," the man spoke, looking down at me from his grand throne, his piercing blue eyes practically going right through me. "Finally, someone comes to visit this desolate world. I'd say 'welcome,' but let's be real, we both know why you're here."

The guy had a thin face, a big gray beard, and long flowing hair. Add to that a golden trident gripped tightly in his right hand, and the fact that there was no wall behind the throne—allowing the sea air and water to freely flow in—it was pretty obvious who I was dealing with.

"Poseidon, the god of the ocean," I stated, and he just nodded silently at my words. "You might not think it's a big deal, but I'd say meeting you is kinda cool. It's not every day you get to meet ancient gods you've only read about in books."

"Your flattering words and poetic talk won't get you far here," Poseidon answered, leaning forward as if trying to gauge my reaction to what he just said. "Our resident poet isn't around to hear it. So, state your business. Let's get this over with."

"If you already know why I'm here, what's the point in me saying it out loud?" I questioned, but he didn't give me the satisfaction of a response. Fine, then. "Look, the fact is, you popping into my world is something I can't just ignore. We're nearly rid of these [Rifts], these fractures in space you're coming from, and I have a duty to keep the people in my world safe. Will you close the [Rift] yourself? We really don't need someone else trying to rule over us."

"If ruling your world was my sole purpose, I would've quit a long time ago," Poseidon responded, and he sounded kinda sincere, and even a bit tired. "That's not why I'm doing this. It's not for greed or for power, but for revenge. There are individuals in your world, those in high positions, who have wronged me and my family, may their names be blessed. I won't leave until they've been brought down."

The people at the top? What was he talking about? Did he mean James and the rest of them? It didn't really make sense to me how they could've wronged a god, but then again, I wouldn't be too shocked to learn that they'd managed to tick off even people who totally didn't deserve it.

"I've got to be honest with you, those who were ruling this world got taken down about six months ago," I let out, finally getting Poseidon's blue eyes to look at me directly instead of just staring through me. "I really don't know why they did you wrong, but—"

"The person who stole the souls of my family members is still alive, still holds power, and I still need to get my revenge," Poseidon interrupted, his eyes lighting up with an almost uncontrollable anger. I noticed something weird; the ocean behind him started to... pull back? The waves were becoming tinier, and more and more sand was getting exposed. What the heck was happening? "And you... you didn't know any of this? I can see your confusion, plain as day in your eyes. Who exactly are you? You're powerful, sure, but you lack information. In dangerous times like these, that's a really bad combination to have."

Once more, I was being told that I didn't really understand the full scope of the world. The Egyptian gods had been pretty upfront about it, but their arrogance didn't let me get much more info out of them. With Poseidon, however, maybe I had a better shot.

"In a previous battle against another group of gods who tried to conquer our world, they told me that I was tied down by some really strong constraints," I brought up, remembering another name as Poseidon looked at me once again. "Do you have any idea what they were talking about? Do you know who the [Architect] is?"

In an instant, those blue eyes of his turned red, and the ocean behind him completely retreated, all in the blink of an eye.

"Ah, so you've heard of the [Architect], huh? You're not entirely clueless, but you still don't know how the pieces fit into the puzzle," he said. "You're bound to someone else's will, living in ignorance. You're essentially a puppet. I pity you, I really do."

The sea god stood up from his throne, and his golden trident began to glow more and more brightly. He descended the three steps that separated him from the floor I was standing on. The atmosphere made it feel like the next few minutes were already set in stone, but I, the [Sovereign], wasn't willing to accept that just yet. I wanted to know more.

"Can't you just tell me who these people are?" I practically begged, summoning my dagger to my hand as his trident got almost as bright as the sun itself. Conveniently, all the windows in the room started to darken. "Look, I don't fully grasp what's happening here, but I don't want to fight you if I don't absolutely have to. If you don't want to harm humanity either, I'm more than willing to help you get your revenge, as long as you leave afterward. My main goal here is to shut down the [Rifts]. If that can be accomplished without killing, I'm all in."

"I regret to inform you, young one, but it's impossible for someone like you, who's essentially a slave, to overthrow their master," Poseidon declared, lifting his trident high into the air. I braced myself, ready to dodge whatever attack would come from that weapon, but then it slowly dawned on me: the weapon itself wasn't going to attack. It was more like a signal for the real thing. "I see it clearly now. Your entire race has been chained, and I'm genuinely sorry to say that you stand in the way of my revenge. In death, you'll find some sort of peace, at least."

With that, the trident struck the ground, and a massive tsunami, one that had even blocked out the sunlight, completely tore apart the throne room.

13. No Intention

Even with all the speed I had, there was just no way to avoid the incoming tsunami. I braced myself, covered my head with my arms to shield from the water, and took as deep a breath as I could. But that didn't make much of a difference when the force of the water squeezed my ribs nearly to the point of shattering them into countless pieces. While Poseidon remained untouched, standing firm, I found myself hurled violently through the open doors behind me, crashing through the wall that followed, and finally getting tossed out into the open forest.

But the enormous wave didn't care that we were no longer near the ocean; it just kept pushing and pushing me. I was spun around like a top, nearly crushed against anything and anyone unlucky enough to be in my path. There were moments where my vision started to fade to black. Time lost all meaning. It could've been mere seconds or perhaps even years that passed; I had no way to know for sure.

All I did know was that I had to keep moving. The instant my back slammed into one of the ancient trees, I quickly summoned my dagger back to my hand and stabbed it into the tree's bark, holding on as if my life depended on it. It felt like I was gripping onto a jet plane as it took off; every force in the world seemed to be working against me. There was no feeling of safety, no indication that the water would ever let up. But as the seconds ticked away, a glimmer of hope finally appeared.

Every wave, no matter how massive, had to have an end, a final push. I began to feel my feet touch the ground, the power of the torrent gradually weakening. I realized I had made it to the end of the wave's path. I was several hundred meters away from my starting point, but the [Rift] that led back to the regular world was still nearby. Miraculously, I was still in one piece.

I had survived a single attack, an attack that seemed designed more to push me away than to kill me.

It was just too powerful. A moment of doubt washed over me; I wasn't sure if I could win this one.

"Come on, get it together," I muttered to myself between heavy, laborious breaths. Several minutes of my heart racing at its peak, coupled with the struggle of being underwater, left me gasping for air. I felt like I was on the verge of passing out, the world almost fading to black again. "Stay awake," I told myself.

Contrary to what some might think, I could issue myself an [Order]. It didn't have the full power of the [Skill], but it was more than enough to jolt me awake, as if I had just downed a hundred shots of caffeine along with a couple of adrenaline shots. Not terrible, although I knew I'd likely experience some side effects from that makeshift boost in a few hours.

As Poseidon departed the wrecked castle, my shadow began to twitch and writhe. Beings started to emerge from it, finally entering the world. This god was seriously powerful; deploying my regular troops would simply waste [Mana]. Only my most potent allies would stand a chance.

By the time I was done summoning, the three-eyed wolf, the Egyptian gods, Shiva, and several of the Greek gods were standing beside me. I briefly thought about also calling forth the golden wolves, but decided against it. Even their supernatural speed wouldn't be all that useful against a wave that could consume everything in its path.

"Let's see if we can actually survive this one," I muttered under my breath. I watched intently as Athena began summoning her hundreds of weapons into the air, while Zeus readied his iconic bolt of lightning. Demeter was already stationed at the back, rejuvenating plants to their fullest potential and adding a few enhancements. Her aim? To hopefully trap that troublesome god of the ocean. "Alright, kill him."

With my order given, Zeus, the god of thunder, pulled his lightning bolt back, readying it for release. The skies above us started to crackle intensely with raw energy as he took control into his [Summon] hand. He was preparing a lightning strike that, just a few months ago, would've been enough to kill me on the spot. The hope was that it would tip the balance of this fight in our favor, even just a little bit.

Things rarely ever go as planned, though.

"You force my own family's shades to fight against me? To try and kill me?" Poseidon said, an incredulous look on his face. My eyes widened as the implication of what I'd done hit me. Maybe this had been in poor taste after all. "Tartarus will greet you warmly once all this is settled."

Any lingering hopes for a peaceful resolution were officially out the window now. Without another word, I let Zeus's bolt of pure lightning fly toward Poseidon. The resulting clap of thunder was so loud, it almost busted my eardrums. But Poseidon was ready; a thick wall of water materialized in front of him out of nowhere. The bolt of lightning, though slowed, continued to push through, as if it was determined to reach its target. For a brief moment, I was hopeful it would break through, but as the seconds ticked by, it became apparent that wasn't going to happen.

In this seemingly never-ending battle, Poseidon's wall of water transformed into a complete sphere. Inside it, Zeus's bolt of lightning struggled in vain. Plumes of steam burst from the sides as the heat from the lightning bolt turned some of the water into gas. But ultimately, it was futile. The might of the clouds couldn't beat the power of the ocean, and eventually, the bolt fizzled out. One of Zeus's most potent attacks had been nullified as if it were nothing.

Poseidon looked almost disappointed at the spectacle.

"Shades, huh? This is only a tiny fraction of the power my brother Zeus could bring when he fought beside me," Poseidon declared, his blue eyes a swirling mix of sadness and hatred. "Whoever your master is, he's corrupted what I hold dearest to me."

"I'm sorry for that, I really am, but I didn't have any say in this," I tried to reason, hoping to spark some kind of dialogue that could possibly lead to peace. But Poseidon was having none of it. Just as I was speaking, the golem that had previously guarded the throne room came charging out of the ruins of the castle, headed straight for me, the [Sovereign]. "Alright then, fine. Shiva, Athena, go deal with those giants."

Without hesitation, the serpent god and the goddess of war obeyed, their weapons meeting the approaching giants in a symphony of clashing metal. I could hear the combat noises filling the air, but I didn't have the luxury of turning my attention to it. A new wave of water was forming to my west. It was smaller this time, more concentrated, and I had absolutely no intention of letting it get anywhere near me.

14. Ocean Born

Hovering on Zeus's cloud, all of us remaining fighters were lifted into the air, safely out of reach of the destructive waves below. I could see that the fight against the golems was happening far away and wasn't immediately affected, but I knew that wouldn't remain the case for long if Poseidon got involved. I had to take action and initiate another big challenge. Zeus, the god of thunder, had the perfect vantage point from this height to make something really impactful happen.

"Zeus, give him everything you've got, don't hold back no matter the cost," I ordered firmly, feeling my own [Mana] quickly depleting as the god's eyes flickered with raw, supreme power. Sensing that it was the right moment, I, along with the others, leapt off the cloud and flew directly toward our target. "Time for you to die."

"Such pathetic attempts won't help you, [Sovereign]," Poseidon spat out, launching his golden trident straight at me. The trident came flying with such speed and force that I couldn't possibly dodge it myself. Instead, I had to rely on the teleportation-swap ability of the three-eyed wolf. The sheer kinetic energy from the trident propelled both it and me to an extra hundred meters in altitude, while also taking a hefty chunk out of my own magical reserves. "You resort to cheap tricks as well? You show no respect in combat."

"Well, you started this fight by hurling a tsunami at me," I shot back evenly. I touched down on the wet ground, quickly closing the distance until I was within just ten meters of the god. A high-speed jet of water tried to blast through the space where my head had just been, but I managed to dodge it. Surprisingly, it was easier than I thought it would be.

The dozen shots that followed, however, told a different story altogether.

"It was less about fighting and more about exterminating an annoying pest," Poseidon retorted. I noticed his trident sailing through the air, carried by a fist made entirely of water, and knew that landing a final blow on him would be a serious challenge. "So, do you plan to make the first move, or should I?"

"I think I'll let the shadow take the first shot," I responded, moving back another twenty meters. My feet sunk slightly into the muddy ground as I retreated, slowing me down just a bit. But maybe that tiny show of weakness was actually a blessing in disguise. It gave Poseidon the impression he could get me, not realizing the real reason for my retreat.

Zeus was ready for round two, signaling his readiness with a roar that shook both heaven and earth. This was more than mere thunder; it was like the explosion of a nuclear bomb. A beam of light, so intensely bright it could blind anyone who looked directly at it, shot towards Poseidon. Plain water defenses wouldn't be enough this time, especially considering that I had channeled more than half of my remaining magical reserves into this single attack.

Yet, against all odds, the unthinkable happened. Even as white sparks danced around Poseidon's arms and visible burns appeared on his hands, the attack... it wasn't lethal.

With my hands engulfed in water that emitted a glowing blue light, I firmly held onto a continuous chain of lightning. A powerful connection of thunder had been established between my [Summon], Zeus, and the enemy. It was a connection that should have been impossible, yet there it was. We were engaged in a contest of wills, a test to see who could withstand the lightning before succumbing to the intense white light. It was also a contest between brothers, in a way.

The power of this confrontation was on a whole different level, one that caused the earth to shake even more violently than before. Gravity seemed to fail; everything that was once grounded floated into the air. Static electricity flew from one object to another. Arcane sigils whizzed through the air, and elements of fire and water materialized only to clash violently. The roars of two ancient beings resonated through the very fabric of space with such speed and volume that even my eardrums couldn't handle it—they burst and started bleeding. All I could hear was ringing, and I felt as if my eyes were being scorched from the inside.

"Zeus, win," I commanded, funneling every last bit of my own power into the god of thunder. I had a strong urge to attack myself, to take down Poseidon while he was distracted. But deep down, I knew that anything—or anyone—that approached these two titanic forces would be instantly incinerated, annihilated down to their very core. "Prove you're the true leader here, and win this damn battle."

To scrape together just a little more power, I withdrew Shiva, Athena, and all my other [Summons] back into my shadow. I gave it my all, cutting out even the power from my own flesh and sending it along. This battle had to be won; this impenetrable wall of energy had to be shattered. Failing wasn't an option; it would mean utter doom. But victory would pave the way for limitless glory.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself as blood started trickling from my mouth and the world around me faded to an all-encompassing white. I was fairly certain the shouting was intensifying and the flow of lightning was becoming even more overwhelming. But it was hard to tell; the world had lost all its colors except for white. Shadows had vanished; even the ocean around us seemed to have evaporated. The lines between who was who had blurred to the point of irrelevance. The merging of our powers had turned this into a contest of souls.

Faced against an ancient being driven by revenge against his fallen foe, I was just a single man fighting for the people. By all accounts, I should have lost easily. But I was never one to make things easy for my enemies.

Giving up was never an option.

Even when I felt my skin and muscles begin to boil, even when tendrils of water tried—and failed—to crush me through the scorching heat, I persevered.

Finally, it seemed like time chose to reward me for my efforts.

It wasn't a victory, but it was an end to the relentless fighting. I felt a surge of lightning pass through Zeus and, because of our connection, through me as well. The pain was so intense that no human body should have been able to endure it. It was only thanks to my upgrades that I was still standing, still able to see as the world gradually regained its color.

When I saw the god of the ocean, I realized that he had received the same sort of harsh treatment as I had. His big, muscular body was not only smoking, but it was also covered in a never-ending series of burn marks. Practically, almost every inch of Poseidon, from his fingers down to his toes, and especially his eyes that met mine in a look filled with pain, was all imprinted with the signature marks of thunder.

Both of us, Poseidon and me, wanted to see the other one defeated, completely wiped out. But the reality was that neither one of us had the ability to make it happen. It felt as if every last bit of energy in the world had disappeared. There were no other signs of life anywhere, just us two. The air was so thin that it was barely enough to keep us breathing. The ocean, once full of life and energy, had completely dried up. The island around us looked like it had gone through hell, scorched and barren. The only thing that was still untouched in all of this chaos was the [Rift], which remained floating up in the air, unharmed.

As moments passed, I felt my skin slowly start to mend itself, and my tendons in my knees felt like they were getting back to normal, sturdy enough for me to stand upright. Even though I wasn’t able to grab my dagger from my side, my fingers just couldn’t make a firm grip, standing over the fallen god felt like enough for me at that moment.

Summoning all the strength I had left, I said, "I really don’t get why this [Architect] did what he did," and my throat was hurting like hell, almost as if it was splitting apart. My mouth felt like I had swallowed sand, so dry. And with every word, I could feel more pain coursing through my body. Despite it all, I had to keep talking. "I can't say I'm okay with it, and I apologize for what they did. If there’s even a sliver of a chance that we could join forces, for you to spare humanity while taking down this evil entity, I'm still completely on board. I don’t want to be controlled by whoever you think is my master. I don’t want to live as a slave, and whatever you believe needs to happen for that not to be the case, I'm willing to do it."

Poseidon’s one remaining eye—the other had been fried by the lightning to the point that it was now just a burnt mess—stared back at me with nothing but intense hatred. It was like he had forgotten all about the physical pain from our earlier fight, and the only thing left was this deep, almost tangible resentment.

"No one can break free from his control while they're still alive," Poseidon finally responded, his voice sounding as rough and broken as mine. Although I managed to get up a bit faster than him, we were pretty much equally banged up. "Your only way out of his control is through dying. If you really want to help me, then put your dagger through your own heart. That would rebalance the world's karma."

I had given it my all. There was really nothing more that could be done.

Feeling a sudden click in my hands that allowed me to regain sensation in my fingers, I said, "I'm sorry you feel that way," grimacing a bit. After some quick testing movements, I managed to grab my dagger. The metal was so hot it felt like it was branding my hand, but I ignored the pain. I approached Poseidon, "I hope you find some peace in whatever comes next."

I could see Poseidon had been holding back some of his strength. His left hand was still functioning well enough to block my blade from reaching his head. I looked at that shaking limb of his, my eyes narrowing. I was more than ready to go ahead and finish what I'd started. But it turned out Poseidon had one last surprise in store. Despite the fact that the ocean around us was all dried up, despite the lack of sufficient air, this god of currents still had the power to pull off one more blast of energy.

I didn't have enough strength left to either dodge it or resist it. I found myself flying through the air, arms flailing about, grasping for anything I could get my hands on. But there was nothing, just barren soil below. The trees were long gone, reduced to ashes, and the grass and buildings had been wiped out as well. My trajectory through the air didn't allow for me to touch down on the ground, keeping me suspended.

"You tricky bastard," I muttered, spotting the ring of the [Rift] nearby. While Poseidon had definitely not mustered enough power to kill me outright, he'd gathered just enough force to push me out of this world entirely. I started to say, "I'll come--"

I couldn't finish my words as a rush of saltwater filled my mouth. It stung like crazy, and having it splash onto the wounds all over my body just made things even worse. I found myself plunged about 20 meters deep into the ocean, and I had to struggle hard to make my way back to the surface.

During those final meters, as I was getting close to the surface, my world began to grow dim. My strength was fading fast, draining out of my limbs. I could've died right then and there, sinking into the abyss below. But that didn't happen, thanks to the claws of a drake gripping onto me.

"Timor," was the only word I managed to get out once I had surfaced, right before expelling every last drop of liquid from my system. Gasping for air a second time, I heard some muttering nearby. Timor, my [Summon], was watching over me, keeping a close eye. "I have to get back. Timor, give me--"

15. Interference

"Is it really a smart move to try and fight right now, sir?" someone questioned. I blinked slowly, not really grasping how foggy my vision had been until I tried focusing on the indistinct shape in front of me that was supposed to be another person. After blinking a couple more times and tuning my ears to the sound of a human voice, I finally realized it was Ulrich standing there. Behind him were others, also injured, but their concern seemed mostly directed at me and my current condition. "You look like you're three steps from—Actually, Jade, get over here and help me out."

Ah, Jade. That name was familiar. I also recognized the young woman's worried face as she started murmuring some Latin words. I felt a surge of energy flow from her into me. I hissed a bit as I felt my skin and flesh start to regrow. At the same time, a small trace of [Mana] began to gather in my chest. My body's natural healing processes were kicking in, and let's just say they weren't too pleased with me right now.

"So what on earth did you do to yourself in there?" Jade pressed. She was already directing others to call in a medical team and arrange for extraction. I waved her concerns away. "Are you kidding? Look at your condition!"

"I need to get back in there before he regains full health," I interrupted her, feeling my skin stretch and expand as I moved. Burn scars and internal injuries were healing, restoring their previous states. I almost felt like I could start running. Almost. "Ulrich, you're coming with me. Your thunder magic will be helpful against the [Boss]."

After taking a few unstable steps, amid a string of objections from both Jade and Ulrich, I reached the edge of the floating island. I was all set to jump off and swim my way to the [Rift], but then I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.

The crack in space had turned red.

"That happened the moment you stepped in," Ulrich explained, as I stared at it with a sense of defeat. Timor had already shown me that entering it now was out of the question. Normally, those [Red Rifts] only opened up when the [Hunters] inside defeated the [Boss]. But, "No one else entered after you. This is totally unheard of."

"This whole situation is," I corrected him, taking a deep, resigned breath. I had missed my shot to defeat this formidable opponent. This ocean god was stronger than the [Demon King], stronger than any foe I'd previously faced. And I had failed to take him down, to remove a significant threat to humanity. "Call Liam. Tell him I need to have a meeting with him as soon as possible."

While Ulrich busied himself with his phone, carrying out my instructions, I took a moment to look around. What met my eyes was the shattered peak of what used to be a city. Golden spires were ripped from their foundations, buildings lay in ruins, and the bodies of hundreds of fish-like humanoids littered the streets. Some of our [Hunters] bore injuries, the toll of this intense conflict, and a few looked paler than others from the strain. But at least they were all alive, and I suppose that counted as a good enough outcome.

If only my own mission had ended on such a note.

"Yeah, hello, Liam, I've got to talk to you about—" Ulrich started to say, finally making contact with the kid on the other end. But the fact that he suddenly stopped talking didn't sit well with me at all. That unease grew stronger when I heard urgent shouting coming from the other side of the line, and Ulrich's eyes landed on me. "He says he wants to talk to you directly."

The slight quiver in Ulrich's voice made me worry a bit more than I usually let myself. I took the phone from him, intending to exchange a few words with the kid. However, before I could even get a word out, I was abruptly interrupted by some shocking news.

The 4th Zone had come under attack, invaded by a horde of humanoid creatures that had emerged from the ocean.

Sara.

Without wasting another second, I knew what I had to do. I turned around and headed straight back.

***

"What else can you give me that could help?" I questioned, just before I chugged down the third bottle of that red liquid. Jade had told me it was some kind of enhanced elixir specifically meant for healing, but in my opinion, it was more effective at making people want to puke. The fact that I hadn't emptied the contents of my stomach already was a clear testament to my own resilience.

"We do have some [Mana Potions], but those are really intended for emergency situations," Jade answered, a hint of horror coloring her voice. The standard guideline was to take just a small sip from these red bottles, but I found that it barely did anything for me. My internal [Mana] was finally starting to replenish at an almost normal rate after downing the third bottle, but it would still take nearly an hour for me to get back to full strength.

We were going to reach the zones in less than ten minutes.

That was just too much precious time going to waste.

"Well, this definitely qualifies as an emergency," I decided, quickly grabbing the [Mana Potion] bottle from Jade's hand. The potion had a swirling blue liquid inside, adorned with what looked like tiny stars. It was beautiful to look at, and packed with enough power to create a small nuke if necessary. I hoped it would be sufficient. "Here's to the future of humanity."

Carefully, I took just a single mouthful of the stuff, and instantly felt every single nerve in my body ignite. This sensation wasn't exactly the same as the burning fire I'd experienced during my earlier fight with the god of the ocean, but it was uncomfortably close. What would the [System] think about this, I wondered?

[Mana]

2960/2160

I wasn't entirely sure if my body was supposed to exceed 100% capacity like this. Judging by the way the veins on my arm were visibly bulging and glowing a vibrant blue, I had a hunch that maintaining this state for too long wouldn't be the best idea.

"Good job, Timor," I said, managing to keep my voice steady as I placed my right hand on the drake's back. "Looks like you're getting a little speed boost today."

A brief sound of puzzlement escaped the creature before a flood of 800MP surged into him. Timor instantly grew by a dozen meters and picked up a significant boost in speed. He seemed satisfied with the change. Sure, some of the [Hunters] riding on his back had to scramble to hold on, but that was a minor inconvenience. The primary thing for me was the relief of not feeling like I was on the verge of exploding anymore. Even though my body was still sending me echoes of phantom pain from the previous battle, I was closer to being fully healed than I had been in a while.

That should be more than enough to deal with an irritating army.

"Zone 5 coming into view," Ulrich announced, prompting me to open my eyes and focus ahead. I could see the city's dock, and the massive container cranes served as useful landmarks. The sight of one of them toppled over did nothing to improve my already foul mood.

Go faster, Timor.

Obediently, Timor sped up, eliciting another yelp from the [Hunters] on his back. I vividly remembered the location of Sara's restaurant and the apartment above it. I had zero intention of letting the invading army get anywhere near those places.

But considering how deeply the blue-skinned devils appeared to have penetrated, I feared I might already be too late.

"I've got to go," I declared, directing Timor into a steep dive towards the dock. Standing there was a large, fish-headed individual donned in golden armor and wielding a silver trident. He had to be important in some way, maybe a good target to cause some disarray among their ranks. But honestly, I couldn't care less about taking him out myself at that moment. "You focus on their high-ranked soldiers. I have something else to take care of. I'll leave a few of my [Summons] with you, but you'll mostly be on your own. Understand?"

"Yeah, got it, sir," Ulrich responded, looking like he was almost about to give me a salute before he thought better of it. We were merely 10 seconds away from reaching the dock where he and the others would be dropped off. I would need Timor for my own mission. "How long do you think you'll be gone?"

"Could be two minutes," I answered him. "Or maybe as long as ten minutes."

The timing depended on a bunch of factors. The fact that I couldn't even call Sara because my phone had been destroyed made the likelihood of a longer absence even greater.

"We can manage that," Ulrich said. I watched as he channeled lightning through his arms and fired off electric bolts at the enemy warriors nearby. Most of them dropped dead instantly, clearly unable to survive the sheer power of the electrical discharge.

However, I knew the stronger ones wouldn't go down nearly as easily, which meant I needed to throw in some additional firepower. As usual, I sent in Shiva, along with most of my demonic mages and warriors. I also included a few of the various undead knights I had in my arsenal. Most of these summons were close to [S+ Ranking], so they should be able to keep the [Hunters] safe until I returned. If not, there were other forces fighting a few hundred meters away who could jump in and help. We certainly weren't the only ones pushing back against this invasion attempt.

"I'll be back," I assured Ulrich and the rest, just after the last member of the group stepped off Timor. Ulrich waved a quick goodbye as Timor's wings lifted us back into the sky. Another burst of [Mana] accelerated us to mach-level speeds. "Sara, please, be alive."

No one heard my whispered words except for Timor, but I felt like they needed to be spoken. The universe had to know what I was desperate for, what I was praying was still true as Timor and I sped through the air at the fastest speed he could manage. I was pushing him to his absolute limits, clinging to the hope that saving even a few milliseconds could make the difference we needed.

Finally, in the ten seconds it took to get over Sara's restaurant, I knew that pushing the boundaries had been worth it. My eyes, despite having been nearly burned to a crisp not long ago, were now fully healed and strained to their utmost to scan the area. I saw crowds of people sprinting down the streets, away from the chaos, passing by the restaurant I was searching for. Some of the fleeing faces were familiar, and so were some of the lifeless bodies on the ground, but none of them were the one person I was desperately looking for.

Sara wasn't in sight. She wasn't confirmed dead, but she also wasn't confirmed alive. And that was absolutely unacceptable to me.

"Handle these bugs," I ordered Timor, spreading out my magical senses at the same time. The blue-skinned devils had messed with the local magical spectrum to such an extent that it was hard for me to pinpoint Sara's familiar energy. If I was going to find her without scouring every inch of this place for the next thousand miles, I'd need to clear away that interference.

16. Newest Enemy

The inhuman screams that filled the air made it pretty obvious that my [Summon] had followed my command to the letter. The air around me grew hot but also had the effect of clearing up the magical interference that had been messing with my senses. The walls of the buildings nearby seemed to become almost translucent, allowing me to see all the people who were huddled behind them. There were civilians hiding wherever they could, whether it was in their rooms, under tables, or even under beds. Anywhere they thought they might find a semblance of safety. Whether they were actually safe or not was a whole different issue, and one I really didn't have time to think about just then. I dispatched some of my summoned forces to go and get the civilians who needed help the most while continuing to stretch out my magical senses further.

In the midst of all the noise—screams, grunts of pain, and even some begging—I heard something else. A voice, one with an authoritative tone, was giving orders to help the wounded. The sharpness of that voice seemed to be pushing people almost to the edge of breaking down into tears.

A smile nearly broke out on my face when I recognized that unmistakable tone. She was alive! Sara was actually alive!

But then it hit me. If she remained without help, she wouldn't stay that way for long.

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath.

About seven blocks down to my right and roughly a block away from where I'd found Sara directing people to safety, one of the larger mermen had violently burst through a wall. The creature was alone, maybe an offshoot dispatched to mop up stragglers. Honestly, I didn't give a damn about the reasons behind its actions.

What I did care about was that it had a clear line of sight to Sara and her group of civilians. To make matters worse, the warrior had also noticed them. Given that this thing was [A-Rank] in power, even a simple cough from it could've obliterated them all.

But before it had a chance to make a move, I was right there in front of it, my clenched fist grabbing its throat and crushing it with raw strength. The creature didn't get a chance to utter a sound of pain; it was neutralized before any real danger could reach the group of civilians.

I sensed other offshoots trying to zero in on my location. They were sprinting through buildings and other structures to get to me, possibly to avenge their fallen comrade or maybe to gang up on a stronger opponent. Frankly, I didn’t have time to think about their motives. I summoned one of my wolves in front of each advancing enemy, delegating the task of neutralizing them to my summoned army while I turned my attention back to the civilians.

That included Sara, who had a rather nasty wound on her left arm, as well as several shards of glass protruding from her back.

"Don't even think about it," Sara warned as I approached, her eyes anxiously scanning her own injuries. I still had a small bottle of healing potion, but it wasn’t intended for civilians. Before I could ponder further, Sara cut in, "Sloan, get yourself together."

Her eyes, which seemed to pierce straight through me, had a calming effect. My mind cleared, and I took a deep breath. I felt my mana stop radiating into the surrounding area. Although Sara appeared unaffected by it, I noticed that other people nearby stopped fainting and collapsing onto the ground.

I needed to rein myself in. Sara was hurt, but not fatally. She seemed pretty frustrated with how I was reacting to her injuries, but otherwise, she was as fine as she ever was.

"Sorry, I was really worried about you," I finally said, feeling my heart stabilize. Everything was going to be okay. "My phone got smashed in a fight, and I couldn't get in touch with you, so I didn't know if you were alive or not."

"Mine's gone too, so calling wouldn't have done any good," Sara responded, narrowing her eyes as she gave me a once-over. "What the hell happened to you? Haven't you moved past the phase where you lose most of your clothes in fights?"

"Fought an ancient god, accidentally caused a lightning storm that destroyed everything in a pocket dimension, and ended up getting hit by the aftermath," I quickly summed up. Sara simply nodded, not questioning the bizarre events. Whether she accepted it because it made sense to her or because she had just learned not to question such things, I couldn't tell. "If you want, I can stick around and escort you out of the city, you know, to make sure you're safe and—"

"Don't bother," Sara quickly interrupted before I could dive too deep into the notion of breaking my promise to Ulrich. "Just give me one of the smoky guys to deal with the jerks tailing us, and we'll manage to get out on our own."

Another member of the group, an older man, started to voice some sort of objection. But he promptly shut up when all eyes turned to him. Clearly, questioning leadership in this dicey situation wasn't appreciated by anyone. As for who I'd pick to keep them safe, my choice fell on Otis. That three-eyed wolf of mine hadn't really gotten his fair share of action during our earlier battle against Poseidon. Plus, knowing he could teleport Sara out of danger if need be lifted a significant weight off my shoulders.

"Get out of here as quickly as you can manage," I instructed Sara. She nodded, promising to do just that, as she and the others began to move away once more. The wounded were given help as required, and they maintained a good, steady pace. If I were lucky, they wouldn’t even encounter any trouble before I had managed to deal with all the threats. "Here's hoping for that. Timor!"

I called upon my drake, Timor, pulling him away from his current grisly task of ripping apart the corpses of enormous mermen. He landed right in front of me a mere second later. Despite his massive size, enough to fill the entire street, he still acted oddly dog-like.

"Let's go find you some more chew toys," I said, hopping onto my drake's back. We took to the sky again, heading towards the dock area where the battle had already kicked into high gear in our absence. Strikes of thunder reverberated almost continuously. Either Ulrich or some other lightning mage was shooting bolt after bolt into the enemy lines. The strategy was as disorienting to the enemies as it was effective. Still, the closer we got, the more I noticed that additional foes had emerged from the ocean during my absence, slowly tipping the scales into a massacre of [Hunters]. "We definitely can't have that now, can we?"

Even though I had muttered those words to myself, not really intending for anyone else to hear, the one wielding a silver trident paused his battle to look up at me. His features were a little more human-like compared to the other warriors, allowing me to see the glint of excitement in his eyes. Looked like he thought he’d found a worthy opponent.

"Cadere!"

A super-thin beam of water shot out toward this humanoid creature. Any regular warrior in its path got sliced through instantaneously. But the effectiveness of the attack came to a halt when it met the skin of this [Boss]. Though the beam could probably slice through steel like it was nothing, this particular foe was on another level, surpassing all the [Hunters] present.

In simpler terms, I had just discovered my newest adversary.

17. Post Error

Jumping off the back of Timor to let my trusty drake dive toward another bunch of enemies, I quickly felt the familiar handle of my dagger in my hand as I moved through the air, closing the distance between me and the fishman warrior. The guy hurled his silver trident in my direction. I had to laugh a bit; Poseidon himself had tried the exact same trick on me once. His throw had been so fast that I couldn't dodge it back then.

But this? This felt like a child's play in comparison.

As the trident flew toward me, I twisted my upper body and extended my hand, grabbing onto the trident's handle as it whooshed past me. This allowed me to use its momentum to spin myself in mid-air and throw it straight back at the warrior. The throw didn't have the energy to do much damage, but hey, it made for a decent opening move.

"That’s a pretty weak imitation of the god of the ocean, I gotta say," I commented, landing firmly on my feet about ten meters away from this wanna-be warrior. The atmosphere around us started to clear up; the intensity we both radiated made everyone else back away. This fight wasn't gonna end without something getting destroyed, that was for sure. "Who are you, anyway? Some random guy wouldn’t be leading this messed-up attempt at a slaughter."

"Triton," the big warrior replied, his fingers turning white as they clenched around the retrieved silver trident. "Son of Poseidon, Son of Amphitrite, and the Messenger of the Ocean. We come seeking revenge."

"Revenge, huh? Well, you’re not gonna find anything useful here," I told him, already knowing the direction this was heading. My tone must have made it clear to Triton because he tried to throw the trident at me again. I barely moved out of its way, letting it zip across the battlefield, spearing through several of his blue-skinned soldiers. Luckily, no [Hunter] got hit. "You always use your own men as target practice or what?"

Just as I glanced away to see where the trident ended up, Triton tried to pull a fast one. A heavy fist rocketed toward my face, a blow that could have easily shattered my skull. Reacting in time, I ducked and let my dagger slide along his forearm. It wasn't a lethal hit, but it made the big guy pause and gasp.

"Your dad accused me of being disrespectful," I remarked, watching Triton clutch at his wound. My dagger's [Poison] was seeping into him, green lines creeping through his purple skin. If he hadn't acted, the poison would've spread throughout his body. But then he did something drastic.

He literally cut his own arm off.

As the arm hit the ground, blue blood sprayed out before the wound sealed itself through sheer willpower alone. It was a sight to see, for sure. Was it gross? A testament to his mental strength? Or maybe just plain stupid?

"The Sea wants you gone, [Sovereign]," Triton declared. I watched, sort of amused, as he took a few steps back. A tendril of water from the nearby dock touched his sealed wound. In a matter of seconds, a new, fully formed limb grew back. "It's calling on me to be the one to take you down, to kill you."

I couldn't help but think how this fight was about to get even more interesting.

"Are you sure the sea isn't basically telling you to walk straight into your own doom?" I asked Triton. The big guy stretched out his hand, and in just an extra second, the silver trident magically returned to his grip, allowing him to assume a ready fighting stance. I took a stance of my own, although I knew deep down that I didn't really need to. "Your dad, the big god of the sea, couldn't even kill me. He had to basically kick me out of the [Rift] just to save his own skin. What makes you think you've got a better shot, especially when you're not even as strong as he is?"

"You tricked my father somehow. I'll succeed where he didn't," Triton shot back, full of misplaced confidence. "I'll be the one to start avenging what your master has done to us."

"So you're not gonna spill any details about this so-called master of mine?" I probed, but all I got in return was an angry roar and a full-on charge.

Yep, of course not.

This time, Triton didn't throw his trident; he tried to use it like a spear, aiming straight for my chest. I casually sidestepped the thrust. This forced him to change tactics on the fly, swinging the weapon toward my shoulder instead. I took a simple step back, avoiding the attack and merely observing the warrior.

"You're really out of your league here," I told him as I dodged each of his attacks with minimal effort. "You've got strength and fortitude, sure, but you're just too slow. Ever think about sitting down and, you know, talking this out?"

Unsurprisingly, Triton didn't answer. He was too busy trying to catch his breath between failed attacks. Was this what he considered fighting? To me, it looked more like a sad display of what authority could make underlings do. Triton probably thought he was making his ancestors proud or something.

Personally, I just felt a bit of pity for the guy. He was so determined to fight against an opponent he had no chance of beating. He might have known deep down that he couldn't win, but I wouldn't bet on it. There was way too much anger fogging up his judgment.

And every second I allowed this farce to continue was another second the other [Hunters] had to deal with Triton's minions. It was pretty selfish of me to keep this going.

"I gotta say, I'm sorry," I finally said, breaking the tense silence. "If you were up against a warrior on my level and not a rogue like me, you might have had a decent fight."

My words seemed to make Triton tense up, as if bracing for a real attack. But ready or not, it didn't make a difference. I vanished from his sight, faking an attack from the right, but then reappearing instantly behind him and driving my dagger through the back of his skull. Triton was durable enough to mutter something before my [Poison] activated and rotted his brain completely.

"May you rest in peace," I whispered, scanning the battlefield as a wave of energy rippled out, reaching every merman around. That sense of loss, that unmistakable signal that their leader was down, made all of them pause. Those who were already in battle got taken out because of that moment of hesitation, and the rest were swiftly killed a few seconds later since no one was going to waste that golden opportunity.

Life was like that, you know? There was no such thing as fairness or anything like it. Opportunities showed up, and you either grabbed them quickly or watched them slip away forever.

After those reflections, I was all set to jump back into the fray, ready to help my fellow [Hunters] finish off the remaining enemies. But it turned out the [System] had different plans for me at that moment. Killing Triton, even if it had seemed like a pretty straightforward task, had released a decent amount of energy. So, just like that, I felt my own power level rising once more.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [173]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [174]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [175]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

…

Congratulations!

You have reached level [191]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

19 levels? Not bad. I hadn’t expected such a bonus for something so easy, but I wasn’t going to-

[ERROR]!

[??Z?Y0??] miscalculation detected. Maximum values breached.

User level has been adjusted to 175.

?????AS

… What?

18. Force of Will

My status came next.

Status

Name:

Sloan Park

Level:

??175??

Class:

Sovereign of The Hallowed

Rank:

S+

Stamina:

2310/2310

Mana:

2160/2160

Strength

160

Willpower

270

Agility

230

Wisdom

215

Vitality

165

Available Points

15

The message that the [System] had flashed before me prior to my status showing up wasn't wrong or anything. My level was at 175. That was 16 levels short of what it was supposed to be, at least according to the extra information that was quickly taken back just a few moments later. The concept of a max level? It was honestly a bit strange to me. I'd never come across anything like it. It shouldn't have been that much of a shock, considering I was the highest-leveled among all the [Hunters]. Yet, stuff like this was totally new territory. Normally, the blue screens would simply inform us about our level gains, about our current [Status], and any updates regarding our [Skills]. That was pretty much it.

Well, it was usually nothing more than that. But, hadn't something more occurred after my showdown with the [Demon King]?

"We need to get rid of this cursed [Rift] before those blue-skinned fiends make another attempt at butchering our people!"

Oh yeah, the current situation.

Up to this point, I had managed to tune out my immediate surroundings. I was seated between Luther and Liam, and we were in the midst of a gathering of a dozen or so of the top-ranking leaders. They were all busy arguing about how to tackle our present crisis. Arguing seemed to be how things got accomplished around here, right?

But, who needed arguments during the real action? I had taken care of the enemy leader, thrown their forces into chaos, and organized groups of [Hunters] to eliminate every last monster that had planned to ambush innocent people. Thousands of enemy warriors had been taken down, even more civilians had been rescued, and there had been billions in property damages. It took us about five hours to complete an initial sweep of the area, another twelve for more thorough searches and rescues, and medical aid for the wounded was still ongoing even a day later.

To sum it up, it was a complete mess, though a manageable one. We had identified the problem, knew what needed to be done to fix it, and were on track to do just that. The source of the issue, the [Rift] I had failed to close the day before, well, that was a bit more of a complex subject for the folks arguing here.

"Armstrong, listen up, the fracture has turned into a [Red Rift]," Liam tried to explain to the musclebound guy who had somehow wrangled administrative control over the 3rd zone. The dude was definitely more about muscle than intellect, but he was straightforward enough that a majority of people in his zone seemed to like him for some reason. Most of the time, I couldn't care less about that, but moments like this really highlighted why electing him had probably been a mistake. "Until that thing goes back to its normal state, attacking it is off the table. And let me tell you, based on what we know about this particular [Rift], we won't be able to do much. The false god inside it is at such a power level that only—"

"Yeah, the [Sovereign] is the only one capable of handling it, you’ve said that before," Armstrong interrupted, seemingly unaware that he was also recycling previous points. Just how many times had we gone around in circles in this meeting? I couldn't quite remember, but I knew it was more times than it should've been. Liam had initially promised this would be a one-hour meeting, max, and here we were, nearly hitting the three-hour mark with no clear end in sight. "So, why has the big guy himself been silent this entire time? Does he have anything to add?"

I was mentally working on an excuse to get out of there when Luther shot a burst of [Mana] in my direction, signaling that I had been called upon to speak. All eyes in the room shifted towards me. What was it that they were discussing again?

Oh, right, something dumb.

"Until I can move in, you guys are pretty much stuck. So, establish a perimeter around the [Rift], monitor the energy fluctuations coming from it, try to predict its next opening so I can jump in as soon as it happens, and also... check for the Leviathan's whereabouts outside the [Rift]. It should be lurking nearby and can be taken care of in the meantime," I instructed. Liam had already suggested that, but his words had been met with endless arguments. Even when you're in a position of top authority, people love to question you, making it difficult to get things done in crucial moments like this. Why were we even here in the first place? "You all know how to clean up a battlefield. Do it like you've always done, and we won't have any issues. For any future planning, we don't all need to be here. I’m out."

Saying this, and releasing a burst of my aura to keep any objectors in their seats, I stood up and walked out of the room. Nobody followed me immediately, but a gradual stream of [S-Rankers] eventually left the room. I got a variety of glances filled with different emotions, but I paid them no mind. Most respected me, and many were grateful for what I had done, but after a decade at the top, jealousy had sprouted among many of the leaders.

They wanted my spot in the grand scheme of things, but frankly, I couldn't comprehend why.

"Sloan," Luther finally spoke as we continued down the hall, with Liam trailing behind. None of us wanted to have this conversation in the open corridor, especially with some other folks lingering further down. "Your words back there weren’t exactly the height of diplomacy."

"And when are they ever?" I shot back, earning a snort of amusement from Liam. Luther’s stern expression quickly quelled that brief moment of humor, though. "Come on, they weren’t accomplishing anything. Everyone just took turns ranting about the same old issues with the same stale opinions. After the first five minutes, it was all pointless."

"The goal was never to solve the problems right there. We've already got that part covered," Luther retorted calmly as he invited us into his office. Inside, Liam and I took seats on the leather sofa while the older man settled into one of the armchairs. A glass of scotch was offered, which we declined. "They're basically just trying to show the public that they’re doing something. Can't you hear them going on downstairs?"

Stretching my senses through the walls—something I normally have active but had toned down just to survive that earlier meeting—I could indeed hear strong voices making assorted declarations. Phrases like ‘We’re working hard,’ ‘We won’t sleep until this is resolved,’ and ‘Humanity will triumph as it always has’ were being broadcast to what seemed like... a bunch of reporters, maybe?

Picking up the remote control from the table, I pressed the power button and the TV came to life. I spent a couple extra seconds flipping through the main channels before landing on one where Armstrong was in the middle of one of his usual rants.

"I have demanded from the leaders, from the powerhouse himself, that we all work together to handle and eliminate this threat before they even think about launching another attack on us. We're already planning a journey to the [Rift]," the brawny man proclaimed with pride, while headlines scrolled below him on the screen. That he made it sound like this whole plan was his own brainchild was, honestly, not something I had expected. But hey, whatever tactics got them more followers and likes, I guess. "They initially wanted to hold off until we’ve finished cleaning up the current mess, but—"

I hit the mute button on the remote before my head could start pounding any more than it already was. I'd narrowly escaped the drone of these people once; no need to subject myself to it again, not even in my wildest dreams.

"By the way, our public support has started to take a hit because of this," Liam mentioned, sitting next to me. When I looked over, I saw him scrolling through various social media feeds on his phone. Public reactions to recent events were extreme, and the multitude of videos being shared didn't paint a flattering picture. "It’s remarkable how quickly people can turn on you."

"You’re not actually hated yet," Luther chimed in, sipping his drink. When offered, Liam accepted a glass for himself, and I found a phone handed to me. As I started scrolling through the feed, my eyes narrowed at the sight of Timor. The drake had apparently been caught in the action on camera. "You're just currently unpopular. People are annoyed that something outside of our control took place, and they need a convenient target for their blame."

"Who better to blame than the guy at the top, right?" Liam concluded. A few chuckles escaped him as he leaned back, visibly aging a decade in that very moment. His shoulders sagged as if feeling the weight of his own power. Doesn't look so great when you're under the microscope, does it? "What are our options for damage control? The initial statement was released four hours ago. Maybe another press conference?"

I sort of tuned out their brainstorming, continuing to scroll through the vast amount of videos being shown on the feed. It was almost unbelievable—like every single person running for their lives felt the need to record their potential final moments. To be honest, I hadn't noticed anyone filming at the time, but here, every angle was covered.

Maybe I had just been ignoring the unimportant stuff. I wouldn't be too surprised by that. Back then, the only thing that really mattered was knowing Sara was safe. I was just about to—

Hold on a second. What's this?

"‘The savior runs away?’" I muttered, reading out the video title. Liam and Luther both glanced at me, puzzled, but I didn’t offer any explanation as I pressed play on the video.

There was Timor again, but this time, myself and the other [Hunters] were also visible. This had been when we first arrived in the city. I was in the process of dropping off the others so I could go find Sara, but then—

"Please, help!"

In the video, I heard people shouting, people crying out for help. There was someone pinned under rubble, filming both themselves and me as I was helping to get the rest of the folks out of harm's way. The thing was, I couldn't remember this scene at all. Had I just... overlooked these people too? That didn't make any sense, right? How could I miss something as important as this?

Then, the worst part happened. The recorded version of me in the video seemed to lock eyes directly with the camera for what felt like an eternity but was actually just a full second. After that, he ordered Timor to fly off. This was all wrong; it didn't happen like that. I'd been keenly watching the fight unfold, closely observing Ulrich's tactics against the enemy forces. This video couldn't be an accurate depiction of what happened.

"That doesn't look good," Liam commented from behind me, peering at the video screen as I played it back once more, straining my eyes to catch any signs of manipulation or editing. Everything seemed too real, too much in line with what had actually occurred during the fight. If any of the other [Hunters] were asked to weigh in, they'd probably say everything looked accurate too. Except for those people, those trapped dockworkers; they hadn't been there. The whole area had been completely empty of civilians when we arrived. "This has got to be fake, right?"

"It has to be," I concurred. Liam looked uncertain for a moment, but then he seemed convinced, not because the video itself looked fake, but because we both knew who I was. Although my focus had primarily been on Sara at that time, there's no way I would've just ignored these people. I would've directed some of my [Summons] to at least shield them from any stray dangers. But this video was painting a totally different picture, showing me deliberately ignoring them. "Do we have anyone who could dig deeper into this footage to determine how it might've been faked?"

"We could give it a try, but I can't make any promises about what we'll find," Luther responded. He took another sip from his glass before continuing to speak. "Actually, one of the reasons I had to talk to you today, Sloan, is that we've gotten reports from other [Hunters] claiming they saw the same thing happen."

What? No, this couldn't be accurate. This just couldn't be the truth. I tried my absolute hardest to sift through my own memories, even reaching into the thoughts of my [Summons], but there was zero mention of these people, not even a whisper. It felt like they'd been inserted into the scene after the fact, and that everyone but me had somehow been implanted with memories concerning them.

"Was it any of the team members I brought along who reported this?" I asked, feeling a real need to know the answer.

Luther responded, "I had Ulrich Bech, the team leader, question his subordinates. They weren't the ones who made these reports." That piece of information eased my worries for a moment. Maybe they could vouch for the fact that the video was a fake. "They also didn't confirm seeing anybody trapped within their field of vision where they landed."

"So, it has to be a fake video," I concluded, but Luther didn't seem to share my sentiment. "What's going on?"

"They didn't confirm that there weren't people there either," Luther clarified. "Some of them said they heard cries for help both during the battle and while they were disembarking, but everything was too chaotic to pinpoint the source of those cries. We can't really be sure of anything at this point. It's an enigma, to say the least."

"It's not just an enigma; it's a full-blown scandal," Liam interjected. He grabbed the phone again to skim through the public's reactions to the video. "This is gaining way more attention than anything else that's been posted. I'm honestly surprised they even conducted interviews with the leaders considering how much traction this video is getting."

I turned the TV back on and flipped through channels until we found someone discussing the video. It was indeed a scandal, and the commentators were far from kind in their assessments. This just didn't add up.

If Liam's reputation had suffered a bit, mine had plunged into an abyss. The kid had been accused of failing to do the impossible, while I was being accused of neglecting something that would've taken me just a second to do.

Two very different situations eliciting two very different public reactions.

"I flew away to make sure Sara was safe," I defended myself. Liam was busy scrolling through various apps, checking to see if anyone had footage of me actually doing that. Why hadn't I been more specific with Ulrich and his team about my plans? This was all so absurd. "There are like ten different camera angles of Timor tearing through the enemy warriors. How can there not be a single one of me?"

"I really don't know," Liam said, already on the phone trying to see if any CCTV footage from the area could be recovered. After a few nerve-wracking minutes, the answer came back as a 'no.' The connections had been cut during some of the initial attacks. Too many walls had been blown to smithereens. "Nobody has footage of you returning to the dock either. We could get eyewitnesses to say that you left to check on Sara and then came back to engage the enemy leader, but the damage had already been done, Sloan."

It was an odd feeling, knowing that the world was starting to turn against me. It wasn't like this revelation was shattering my entire self-image—I never cared much about public opinion to begin with. But knowing that people would now look at me with a sense of scorn stirred up something strange within me.

"This really isn't the biggest problem in the world for me," I finally said out loud. "I've been out of the public eye for like the past six months, so people barely even remember who I am. I'll just keep on doing what I've always been doing, and I don't think much is going to change because of this."

"Let's hope not," Luther muttered in response. "By the way, how are you feeling? How are those wounds?"

"They're okay, all things considered," I answered him. My back was a bit stiff, and sometimes my skin felt like it was burning a little, but things were generally getting better. "I just need some more time to rest and heal up."

"Well, it looks like you're going to get that time," Liam chimed in, his eyes briefly meeting mine. "There's not much more we can do at this point. We've already started everything that needs to be started. Now, we just have to sit tight and wait for a bit."

Liam had a point. While there was some room for planning and strategizing for taking on Poseidon once the fracture finally opened up, there were only so many things we could actually do right now. The smartest course of action was to step back and take care of our own lives for the moment.

So that's exactly what I did. I managed to sneak out of the building without getting caught, moving stealthily across the rooftops of the damaged city. Some parts were more messed up than others, but a lot of it was still standing, despite some minor destruction like broken windows, cracks in the pavement, and a few flickering streetlights. It was clear that the city had seen better days, but it wasn't so bad that people couldn't live there. Life, as they say, had to go on. People were still moving about, going to work, and returning home.

The situation at Sara's restaurant was no different. Even though the kitchen had taken a significant hit, the appliances had been replaced, and the staff were back at it, cooking at full speed. The restaurant was busy with people eating out to celebrate simply being alive, and the noise level made it difficult to have a meaningful conversation.

Sara and I did get a few moments to chat outside during a smoke break, but we didn't have much time. We did a quick health check-up, confirmed that things were generally okay, and talked about being a bit more discreet in the coming weeks.

"So, we're eating out here in an alley instead of inside the restaurant?" Sara questioned. I just shrugged my shoulders. "Well, it's not the worst dining experience I've had."

"We could consider going to one of the parks," I suggested. Just then, some shouting came from inside the restaurant, drawing our attention. "Seems like they need you back in there already."

"Yeah, it looks that way," Sara agreed. She put out her cigarette early and let out a sigh. "We'll figure something out later. Just get a new phone and shoot me a message when you can."

I promised her I would, watching as she headed back inside, already yelling at her staff to pick up the pace before she was even fully back in. Sara was always so efficient, wasn't she?

Eventually, I returned to my own place, unlocking the door to my apartment, rummaging through my fridge for something to eat, and then plopping down on my sofa. It wasn't a perfect dinner by any means, but it was good enough for someone who was too tired to care much about it.

However, there was something else that had been lingering in the back of my mind throughout the chaotic day. Amidst the growing controversy and all the craziness, there was one crucial thing I needed to address.

"[Status]."

Status

Name:

Sloan Park

Level:

??175??

Class:

Sovereign of The Hallowed

Rank:

S+

Stamina:

2310/2310

Mana:

2160/2160

The mysterious question marks surrounding my level caught my eye immediately. They would flicker in and out when I focused on them too much, like they were out of place or not supposed to be there. It felt as if they were hastily added to my [Status]. It just felt so out of place, so... off.

"No, this is all wrong," I found myself saying out loud, pretty much agreeing with my own thoughts. The room was empty and didn't offer any replies, but the soft blue glow from the [Status] box was confirmation enough.

I was right.

The white letters in the box started to flicker even more erratically, like tiny spasms affecting the rest of the stats on my list. It felt as if my mind was being pressed and squeezed from all directions, almost like something was trying to hold me back. But, honestly, I didn't care. "I know for a fact that I've surpassed [Level 175]. This isn't accurate. I demand what I rightfully earned."

And just like that, something snapped.

???!

You ?????. ???XXXY??, but [?]. Fine.

Congratulations!

Your internal experience has exceeded current [Rank]. [Rank-Up] Challenge required to proceed.

Does the user wish to start challenge now?

Now, this was something new. I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it when--

Confirmation detected!

The [Battle of Time] has been chosen. Goal: ??XAT

And then, all of a sudden, the world around me went completely dark.

19. Receiving End

By the time I could even manage to take my next breath, I found myself already teleported away from the comfort of my sofa and into an empty void of nothingness. My instincts immediately kicked in. I twisted my body in mid-air, and after what felt like half a second of falling, my feet made contact with broken, uneven asphalt. I looked up and saw that the sky overhead was an ominous dark red color. The air had a strong smell of sulfur, and as I looked around, I realized the entire world around me had turned into a twisted wasteland filled with orange sand.

This was incredibly wrong, off in every way possible. The [Battle of Time] had been mentioned, but what did that even mean in this context? I'd really like to know, especially since the sand beneath my feet was starting to tremble and shake. And were those slender, towering pillars off in the distance actually moving?

"[System], could you do me a favor and repeat that goal for me?" I urgently requested. At the same time, I tried to summon Timor to my side. I had zero intention of staying on the ground when I didn't even know what or who I was supposed to be fighting against. If I was up in the air, at least I would have the advantage of seeing any incoming threats.

But then something surprising happened—Timor didn't come. No drake materialized from my shadows like it usually did.

Request accepted!

Goal: Reclaim what has been lost before it is too late.

My eyes went wide when I realized that none of my summons were responding. I even tried to establish a manual connection, but it was like they had vanished. There was nothing there; it was as if my entire army had been cleanly separated from my shadow. I felt a kind of emptiness at that moment, but that sensation soon eased up when I saw what was lurking beneath the sand.

Suddenly, I heard a rumble that forced me into quick action. I lunged to the side just in time to dodge the emerging head of a venomous serpent. The snake had fangs that dripped with venom, scales as black as night, green and determined eyes, and its movements were so swift and smooth, you'd think it was impossible for a creature of its size.

It was Shiva.

The beast's energy felt the same as it had for the past several months, but something about its mind was off. Yes, the mind was there, but it was as if it had been clouded or covered by some foreign presence. Something was manipulating its thoughts, and that something was preventing me from truly connecting with her.

That's when I saw a flash of blue appear in Shiva's eyes, followed by a surge of anger that led her to try and strike me. I was only able to dodge those venomous fangs because of my own size and quick reflexes. I leapt out of her attack zone before those sharp implements could dig into my flesh. Was she always this quick? Or had I somehow become slower?

"Get yourself under control right now," I ordered, but it was clear the serpent wasn't listening. Most likely, she couldn't. The responsibility fell on me to handle this situation. The [System] had not deceived me.

I took another quick glance at the notification that had popped up earlier.

Request accepted!

Goal: Reclaim what has been lost before it is too late.

The [System] didn't give me a specific time limit, but I could feel it deep down; a time limit was definitely in play. I knew it from other signs, too. The ominous rumbling sound in the distance was becoming increasingly louder. My army was coming, and they were closing in fast.

I was confident I could handle Shiva one-on-one. Even any individual soldier in my army was a manageable opponent. But all of them swarming me at the same time? I wouldn't make any promises about that.

"I guess I've gotta wrap this up quick," I said softly to myself, staring into Shiva's icy blue eyes. Those eyes glared back at me, seeing me as nothing but prey. Her usual intelligent gaze was nowhere to be found. "I'm going to set you free, Shiva."

Before she could try to attack again, my dagger appeared in my hand. I was completely ready for her this time. I struck at the underside of her wide-open jaws, right at the bottom of her head. Her scales were hard, making my blow not as effective as I wanted, but the quick flinch from Shiva was enough to show that the [Poison] still did its job wonderfully.

Out of nowhere, she violently shook her massive body, striking me with a force that sent me flying several meters into the sand. Gasping for air as my lungs emptied and my ribcage temporarily bent inwards, I could feel my bones snapping back into their proper positions almost immediately. I spat out the pooled-up blood in my airways. That small pause, however, was almost enough time for her deadly jaws to snap shut on me as I struggled through the sand. I was nearly crushed.

No way. I wasn't letting that happen.

Fueled by pure defiance, I flexed my muscles to their absolute limits to keep her massive jaws from closing. I couldn't dodge, but I could prevent her from snapping her jaws shut. My feet were planted firmly on her lower jaw, my left hand was pushing up on the top, and my right hand went back to work with the dagger. Gripping it tightly, I stabbed into the gums right next to one of her fangs. Shiva tried to shake me off, thrashing her head, but I just pushed the dagger in even harder. Venom and blood burst out of the wound, but I didn't let it stop me. I continued to push until the fang was finally dislodged. She couldn't actually roar, but the deep, guttural noises that came from her were clearly sounds of agony.

"Don't worry," I said quietly, seizing the opportunity to leap out of her mouth and land on the top of her head. "This will be over real soon."

Quickly, I grabbed one of the scales on the back of her head and ripped it clean off, exposing a vulnerable spot. Shiva did her best to throw me off by slamming herself into a sand dune, but she wasn't quick enough. My dagger plunged into her brain stem, and I twisted it until she came to a slow halt and lay motionless on the ground.

I had just taken the life of one of my most loyal followers.

"I didn't think I'd have to do something like this twice," I remarked, collapsing onto her head to catch my breath. Aside from my trusty dagger, I was still in my casual clothes; no armor. Just me, badly dressed, covered in both blood and venom. Truly, it felt like a perfect way to spend the evening. "So what's it going to be? Are you actually dead for good now? Please tell me you're not."

I waited just a few more seconds before activating [Mana Bleed] on my fallen [Summon], Shiva. The energy transfer this time was a bit off, different than what I was used to. The usual straight strand of energy was now a jagged line, filled with imperfections. It had so many protrusions upon protrusions that if you looked closely, it almost resembled the head of a serpent.

Since I was in need of the [Mana] to fend off the approaching army, I walked over to cut the line loose. The energy flowed into me, rejuvenating me like a much-needed breath of fresh air in this unforgiving desert landscape.

The best part, however, was the fact that I felt Shiva return to my mind. She seemed less than pleased, clearly not thrilled about the dagger I had to drive through her brain, but she was glad to be back all the same.

"I missed you too," I replied to her in my thoughts. Stretching my body a little, I looked up into the sky. There was a wall of black on the horizon, but it was still far enough away that I had a few minutes before I needed to worry about it. But there was another issue. That small speck in the sky was a crisis that was approaching much quicker. "Come on out, Shiva."

I tried to pull her forth from my shadow, but to my surprise, nothing happened.

What the heck?

I could sense Shiva struggling to obey, trying to push through from the other side of my shadow to emerge into the physical world. Some invisible barrier was holding her back. She was ready and willing to help, but for some reason, her body just couldn't materialize. Maybe it was some weird condition of the current [Battle] situation?

"Figures," I muttered to myself, contemplating my options. My dagger wouldn't last forever, and there was a limit to how many attacks I could dodge. My health was already running lower than I was comfortable with. Once the enemy started launching ranged attacks, I'd be in real trouble. "You might just be an unfortunate glitch, Shiva."

Maybe Timor, once he returned as one of my summons, could offer the support I'd need once I dealt with my flying drake creature. I noticed black flames forming in the beast's mouth. That didn't look friendly at all.

"Let's find out if our sparring sessions have paid off," I said, preparing myself.

Taking a running start, I leapt into the air, aiming to meet the diving drake. My jump was strategically higher than the creature itself, allowing me to avoid the black flames that would've otherwise burned me to a crisp. I managed to grab onto the back end of the beast as it curved its flight path upward, avoiding a collision with the ground. The drake made a quick attempt to shake me off, using its back legs and tail like a whip, but it was neither strong enough nor quick enough to succeed. Using my dagger like an ice pick, I started my slow but determined crawl towards the center of the beast's back.

Timor wasn't about to let me have an easy time with my mid-air assault. What started as a gentle curve through the air turned into a never-ending, chaotic spiral. Sharp turns, billows of black smoke that messed with my vision, and pretty much every trick you could think of were employed to shake me off. But I didn't let any of it deter me. I held on as tightly as I could, inching forward to get closer and closer to Timor's chest area. I knew I couldn’t repeat the same trick I'd used on Shiva, but targeting other vital organs was still an option.

Just a few more meters, I thought. Just a bit more and I'd be in a position to rip off some of those scales and make my attack. I knew I could do it. I was just about to—

Suddenly, I realized I had lost my sense of orientation. The constant turning and twisting had messed with my perception, and before I knew it, I felt the harsh sand grinding against my back. Timor had pulled a fast one on me, flying inverted and slamming me down between his body and the ground below.

The friction turned the sand into something that felt like heated, razor-sharp shards, tearing the back of my shirt clean off. My skin was next, although only the upper layers were affected before we finally started to slow down.

My grip on the drake loosened, and my dagger, which had been embedded in Timor's flesh, disappeared from sight. I lay there in the sand, momentarily defeated. Timor twisted around, revealing those cold, blue eyes that were eerily similar to Shiva's—just as focused, and just as willing to try and kill me.

"Any chance you'd reconsider?" I offered half-jokingly, but the drake paid me no mind. It started gathering those ominous black flames again. So, it was just going to roast me and call it a day? "Well, it's an effective method," I conceded.

Was this really how it was going to end? Taken down by one of the creatures I'd spent so much time with? I refused to accept it. Pushing myself up from the sandy ground, I winced at the sensation of stone shards digging into my skin. This world seemed hell-bent on breaking through all of my defenses.

To make matters worse, my trusty dagger was still lodged in Timor's body. The power-up my minion had received was too much to handle, and it felt like the universe had conspired to put me in this losing position. But that thought only made me more determined. I dodged another wave of black flames and increased my distance from the beast. Retrieving my dagger without getting toasted seemed nearly impossible, but what else could I do? I had no other tools, no other options, and Shiva couldn't be summoned, or so I thought—

Suddenly, I felt a familiar pressure building within me, like a call from the shadows. A dark shape started forming in my hand. It wasn’t Shiva’s actual body—something was still preventing that—but it was definitely connected to her. The shadow solidified into a black dagger, adorned with a single green eye on the handle, staring back at me. It was both eerie and beautiful, and it was the only weapon I had against a new surge of black flames hurling towards me.

"Good enough for me," I was pretty much forced to conclude as I revved up and charged full speed at Timor, the drake. The black blade in my hand seemed to pulse, as if it was just as eager as I was to tear into the enemy.

I can't lie, it was a blade that had very specific and intricate desires.

As I ran, I dodged alongside the black flames. Timing it just right between those bursts of fire, I managed to get right up close to the drake's snout. Its claws came at me, but let's be honest here, I was much faster. I jumped, skillfully evading the sharp claws and the incoming fire, and once more, I successfully landed on Timor's back.

The drake spread its wings wide, probably aiming to take off and shake me off yet again. But I wasn't about to let that happen. Ripping away some scales and a decent amount of the flesh beneath them, I plunged my eager black blade directly into the creature's heart. The drake let out a powerful roar as it met its end.

Well, that was two down. Just several hundred more to go.

"At least you two were the challenging ones," I muttered to myself. I sensed apologetic vibes coming from Timor. The creature tried to materialize in the real world, but it hit the same barrier that had hindered Shiva. "Don’t stress. Try to become something else instead. I'm really curious to see if you can pull off what she did."

For a moment, there was confusion. Then, the black blade in my hand gave a pulse, sending out that signature energy I'd come to associate with Shiva. It took a hot second, but then something incredible happened: a scaled gauntlet started to form on the same hand holding the blade. This new piece wasn't as pitch-black as the weapon, but it had this remarkable, shiny finish. I had to admit, it was quite the well-crafted addition to my gear.

As I looked out at the oncoming army, I found myself thinking, maybe by the end of this, I'd have a complete set of this extraordinary armor.

That is, of course, assuming I managed to live long enough to make that a reality.

"So, this is what it feels like to be on the receiving end, huh? It's like staring into a mirror, only the reflection wants to kill you."

20. No Time

Time kept ticking away for me. The cycle of battle, slaughter, and death was a constant; it repeated over and over again. Blood got spilled, mana was sapped away, and the very army that had once shielded me was there for me again. Only this time, the situation was a bit different. I wasn't tucked away behind a wall of bodies, behind an army of shadowy figures that were ready to fight to the last man just to keep me safe. Now, I had to jump into the fray myself, but I wasn't alone. My army was assisting me, just in a new and unique manner.

Shiva had transformed into a dagger that I wielded. Timor became a useful gauntlet on my hand. My pack of golden wolves turned into a tough gambeson made of fur. On top of that, a variety of demons from my army conjured up a layer of red chainmail that protected my upper body. If I needed to take to the skies, wings were available, thanks to the harpies in my army. Swords and other weapons? Those were also readily accessible at a moment's notice. Basically, any tool I ever wanted could be manifested instantly, as long as someone in my army had used it before.

With a goddess like Athena at my side, who was well-known for hurling every conceivable weapon throughout history at enemies, I knew the possibilities were endless.

But it wasn't just the physical aspects of this armor and weaponry that mattered. The mystical properties were something else entirely. When I wore this armor, I could feel my muscles becoming even tougher. Handling the daggers? My fingers felt more agile than ever. And once I put on the goggles belonging to the three-eyed wolf, my vision range extended significantly. It was a unique experience, but everything clicked into place.

This was a sort of exchange, a trade-off. Instead of each of my army members fighting on their own, their strength was channeled into me. Sure, bringing these pieces into the real world had some costs, but they were low enough for me to comfortably wear these items on a regular basis.

Especially when you consider that the golden wolves could change their form to a casual outfit if I asked them. Yeah, the color was a tad brighter than what I usually go for, but who could resist the sensation of being wrapped in what felt like a perpetual cloud? Luxury clothing brands would die for something like this.

"If that fur of yours existed in the real world, I bet Liam would be after me to get his hands on it," I said half-jokingly. I felt a ripple of warm approval from the golden wolves. However, that comforting warmth turned into a chilling cold as the last adversary in this desert started to approach. "Ah, I was wondering when that electrified cloud would finally show up."

There he was, Zeus himself, gripping his iconic lightning bolt. Energy flickered around his well-defined muscles in an awe-inspiring display of raw power. A kind of display that would have intimidated the average person.

Having been in battles alongside Zeus for a pretty long time, I wasn't all that impressed by the flashy thunderbolt he was holding. I wanted to focus on wielding my own weapon of choice. Zeus yelled out loud, but I stayed quiet as we both closed the distance between us. He had his cloud to help him glide through the air, and I had my harpy wings. We were both quick, no doubt about it, but he seemed to have some difficulties with making fast maneuvers. And although both of us had the upper hand in ranged combat, up close and personal was a different story.

The moment the restrictions of just dodging to the sides were lifted, I knew I had the edge to take down the enemy. Zeus's lightning bolt was dangerous, sure, but the ability to dodge in any direction I wanted made it pretty easy to avoid. A quick move upwards, a swift dodge downwards, and then a rapid roll to the side—those actions made his lightning strikes go off-course, veering into the distant horizon. Yeah, a bit of static did hit my face, causing my muscles to tense up for a second, but that was a minor inconvenience. It actually helped me get closer to him.

His eyes looked surprised when they met mine. He tried to call upon the power hidden in the black clouds above, aiming to blast and annihilate everything in the vicinity. But he was too slow. My dagger, guided by Shiva's enhanced venom, met his left eye and everything behind it. The venom did its work, and Zeus was down for the count in no time.

Finally, the last member of my stolen army had been reclaimed. Zeus's shadow went back to where it belonged, in the darkness. Above me, the skies started to clear up. The once menacing red sun turned into a more gentle yellow one, and the arid world of endless sand transformed into lush green fields.

For a brief moment, I was able to relax and catch my breath.

The [Battle of Time] has been completed!

Calculating points...

"This really wasn't all that bad, I guess," I found myself muttering as I stretched my arms up high into the sky. How much time had I actually spent on this whole thing? It felt like around 12 long hours or so? A big chunk of that time was spent strategically avoiding the larger groups to save up my energy, just focusing on taking on as few enemies as possible at one time. Yeah, the entire ordeal was pretty exhausting, but looking at the end result, it wasn't so bad after all. Finally, I thought I could return to the real world and start piecing things together.

Well, at least that was the original plan. When I looked at that familiar blue screen again, something odd happened. The three little dots at the end of the calculator display started to stretch out, like they were going on forever. Within a second, those dots broke free from the box they were in, zooming into the distance at the speed of light. The blue square that held them started to flicker in and out. And then, the world around me began to change in a wild way. It was like it couldn't make up its mind, shifting from a desert landscape to snowy mountains and then morphing into something that looked like it was straight out of an acid-trip nightmare.

It felt endless, like there was absolutely no way out. It seemed to go on for what felt like an eternity before I could finally take a deep breath and realize I was in some new, different place.

The [Rank-Up] challenge has commenced!

The [Battle of Time] has been chosen. Goal: Reach the End

What the heck?

I had already wrapped up the challenge, but the [System] was being stubborn, insisting that I hadn't done anything of the sort. No matter how much I poked and prodded, questioning it, there was zero new information. According to that annoying blue screen, it was like I hadn't even started the battle at all.

So, faced with the impossibility of leaving without finishing the challenge again, I sighed and accepted my fate. I started to look around to get a sense of the area. The grassy hills were back, now also featuring a treeline about a hundred meters away. My army was still tucked inside my shadow, weirdly enough. And I could feel that something new was about to happen.

Thanks to the harpies' wings, I took to the sky to get an even better look at my surroundings. Most directions showed an endless stretch of the same old scenery, but to the north, something caught my eye. A mountain I recognized, one that I'd seen—and fought on—before. Not just the mountain but the city at its base too.

"Oh, great. Mount Olympus," I muttered under my breath, feeling a renewed sense of frustration bubbling up in my heart. "Just can't seem to get past this chapter, can I?"

Knowing that hovering in the air wouldn't do me any good, I decided to head for the city. Since Timor was still confined to my shadow, I continued to use the harpy wings for flight. Trees turned into a blur beneath me as I moved forward. But then a voice, a familiar voice, stopped me dead in my tracks.

"This is A-Rank!" someone exclaimed from below. My eyes widened as I recognized the source of the voice. No way.

"How is this even possible?"

The trees blocked my view, but I could feel the magical signatures of the people below. They were unmistakably those I had known, fought with, been trapped in a [Red Rift with]—and even watched die.

"We can't be certain why this is happening," Argus responded in his calm manner, exactly as he had done back then. "But we do know what our next moves are. Sloan, did the barrier show any signs of breaking when you tried to leave?"

It just kept getting worse. My eyes shifted to my past self, who was also below. Even through the leafy obstruction, I could see the lines of energy that made up his body. This wasn't just a projection; it was as real as everything else here.

"The only thing that will happen if we try to break the barrier is that it'll break our weapons," my former self-declared, words that I knew all too well and could easily recite along with him. "There's only one way to get out of here."

The pause that followed felt eerily familiar, a perfect replay of the past. But this time, I wasn't willing to accept what would come next.

Was this some kind of weird fracture in time that could let me fix my past mistakes? Probably not, but I still had to give it a shot. Tucking my wings close to my body, I let gravity do its thing, pulling me down swiftly through the leafy branches right to the spot where the voices were coming from.

As soon as I landed, all eyes were on me. People looked confused and scared, and my past self, well, he looked suspicious.

"Hold on!" I shouted as my feet touched the ground. I quickly dismissed the armor encasing my body, revealing my regular, casual clothes. "I'm not here to fight; I'm here to help."

My former self didn't respond right away. The others, however, began to murmur among themselves. I heard bits of words, some nervous shrieks, and something that sounded like Argus trying to plead or reason with everyone. But none of it mattered in the end. Before anyone could say what they really wanted to say, they started to fade away.

The people looked shocked as their fingers began to vanish into thin air. My past self, however, just observed his disappearing hand with a sort of passive indifference.

Whatever that was about, I found myself alone in the forest again. My choices were pretty clear: behind me was a [Red Rift], and in front of me was a stone path that led to the city.

Of the two options, it was pretty clear which one I had to pick. But, for the heck of it, I figured I'd give the [Red Rift] a shot first.

"The other images from the past disappeared, but you're still here," I said to the lingering [Red Rift], as I touched its edge with my hand. It seemed to resist me, trying to push me away. But honestly, an [A-Rank Rift] didn't stand a chance against someone at my level. "Are you real or what?"

Slowly, I started increasing the pressure from my palm, pushing my hand deeper into the stubborn [Rift]. It didn't want to let me in, but it had no choice—it simply wasn't powerful enough to stop me.

And it also wasn't strong enough to contain what happened next. By the time my arm was halfway in, the space inside the [Rift] started to crackle. All of a sudden, I got shoved back hard. I was fine, but the [Rift] began to shake violently. Its colors morphed from red to green to golden, then broke into sub-parts, each shifting into different colors. Angry faces appeared, and then, as quickly as it all started, everything just shut down.

The [Red Rift] was gone, and in its place, the air seemed to pulse with increased energy. I wasn't exactly sure what I had just done, but one thing was clear: the world wasn't too happy with me for doing it.

"Not my fault you can't figure out when I've actually completed my assigned tasks," I muttered to the air, really speaking to nobody in particular. I dusted off my regular clothes a bit and then let my battle armor make its return. "All I wanted to do was grab some food and get some sleep. But no, here I am, dragged back into this mess. Just let me leave with the advancements I've rightfully earned, and we'll call it even. Deal?"

No response.

Typical.

With no other options available to me, I started walking down the stone path ahead. Within just a few minutes, a rabbit lunged out of the bushes, attempting to kill me. I dealt with it in less than a second. After another ten minutes of sprinting, I finally reached the entrance of the city.

And, once more, I realized I wasn't alone. The images of people from my past were back.

They had already started fighting the statues guarding the entrance. My past self was in the air, gracefully landing on the shoulder of one of these stone enemies. He shoved his dagger right into the statue's eye. It wasn't a perfect attack, and the follow-through was flawed, but it was still easy for me to see where I had started from. Whether illusion or not, this was a spitting image of the past, recreated in intricate detail.

Every aspect was included, even the perilous moments. Those narrow escapes from death, those seconds when it felt like everything could crumble. I could see it all playing out in real time. Every detail was burned into my memory.

But then something shifted. The power in the air changed, escalating from [A-Rank] to [S-Rank], and the statues moved faster. Argus, who should've been able to dodge easily, found himself hit with enough force to break the arm that was holding up his shield.

"Argus!"

Anya, the healer who had survived so many fights, stopped aiding the others and focused on keeping Argus from succumbing to his injuries. But I knew it was futile. My past self was too busy dueling another golem. The other [Hunters] couldn't make it in time either, and without additional help, they were doomed.

I had stayed out of it up to this point to preserve whatever this scene was, but I couldn't stand by any longer.

Taking a step forward, my past self and I locked eyes. A moment of recognition passed between us before we both plunged back into the battle. Conversations could wait until later, if we even got the chance to have them.

The golem prepared its spear, and Argus steadied his battered shield. I knew it was a lost cause, so I stepped in and took the hit myself. The spear's tip grazed my chest, scratching the surface a bit but doing nothing else of importance.

"Rude," I remarked.

My hand clasped around the spear, my fingers tensing just a bit, and the stone weapon snapped in two. The golem quickly adapted, converting the broken spear into a makeshift mace and swinging it at my head. I wasn't about to let that connect; I seized the opportunity to grab the golem's head and tore it off. It might've attained [S-Rank] power, but it still had the same vulnerability as before.

Just then, I heard a grunt of pain. My past self had been hit by another golem. The blow was superficial, merely grazing his torso, but the kinetic energy spun him into the air, creating an opening for a potential strike from an enemy.

I couldn't just stand there and let my former self die like that. So, I activated the eye on my helmet, and we switched places in an instant. Instead of a lethal hit to my past self, I took the impact and ended up with a nasty bruise on my current body. It stung a bit, and the force of the blow even sent me skidding into the dirt. But that was a small price to pay. When the golem tried to stomp down on my ribs, I quickly dodged and crushed one of its legs. Then I leapt up high and did the same thing with its head.

Two down. That should have been the end, but of course, life's never that simple. The other people, or their memories or whatever they were, began to speak. They didn't vanish like I thought they would, but some rumbling from inside the city quickly shut them up.

"Don't you dare fade away into nothing," I commanded them, barely even glancing their way before I sprinted ahead to face the oncoming swarm of golems. There were archers among them, trying to snipe me from a distance, but I wasn't bothered. I pointed my palm toward them, and let the hellish fire of my demonic army surge through the air. The flames made short work of the stone, burning right through.

Those golems foolish enough to get close—met a brutal ending. They took swings at me, but I dodged every attack. Twisting and turning my body in mid-air, leaping out of their reach, and using the flames to obscure my position, I took them down one by one. I had some minor scrapes and bruises, sure, but I still had enough energy to turn my head and look back at the city's entrance.

The memories or past versions or whatever they were stared back at me, looking pretty shocked. They were still very much present and were now asking my former self for explanations. Explanations that couldn't be given.

And as I walked back toward them, every one of them began to fade away. Argus, Bella, Anya—all gone in the blink of an eye. But my old self? He was still there, somehow resisting the fade.

"You said not to fade into nothing," my past version said, holding up his hand. It was becoming slightly translucent, but the process was slowing down, almost as if he was resisting it by sheer willpower. "Who are you?"

Time was running out. I could hear it in his voice.

"I'm you, but from the future," I explained quickly, locking eyes with him. "What was our mother's name?"

It was a test, a detail nobody else would know.

"You think I'm fake? Understandable," my past self responded. "Yon. What's our dad's name?"

Another test, in return.

"Don't know," I replied, and we both started to smile. If memories could be copied, there was no way to confirm authenticity. "I've been through all this before. Everyone but you dies."

"So, you were here in the past as well?"

"No," I clarified. "I'm not supposed to be here at all. And these golems aren't supposed to be S-Rank. They should only reach A-Rank."

"Well, this is a nightmare, isn't it?" my past self concluded. He was fading more rapidly now, unable to hold on much longer. "If I die, do you die too?"

"I hope not," was all I could say.

And just like that, I was alone again. Left to ponder a question I didn't want an answer to. It was entirely possible that the [System] was twisted enough to link our fates, but I'd only find out when it was too late. Unable to gamble my life on something so uncertain, it was clear what I needed to do next.

Reach the end.

Easier said than done, of course.

21. Increasingly Difficult

After that point, things for me only got increasingly difficult. The situation went from bad to worse. The golems, which once resembled human warriors, began to take on grotesque forms that looked like something out of a nightmare. Their heads grew absurdly large, their limbs twisted in unnatural ways, and some even had extra limbs tacked on. That was just the tip of the iceberg. When the [Bosses] finally showed up, I knew I had to pick up the pace, and fast.

Each time I encountered them, they were already deep in the heat of battle and were close to dying. My instincts had to take over every time, making split-second decisions to absorb the lethal blows meant for the [Hunters], while also obliterating the enemy. During my initial battles against the golems, it had been relatively simple; they were just S-Rank, and I was above that. They didn't stand a chance against me.

However, things got complicated when we found ourselves inside a non-euclidean inn, facing off against Dionysus. I managed to drive my dagger deep into the god's throat, a blow that should've been fatal. But instead of dying, Dionysus responded by spitting a mixture of toxic saliva and blood at me.

"Intruder intruding," Dionysus slurred, grabbing hold of me before I could escape and slamming me down through a nearby table. "Intruders shouldn't intrude in fate."

"I wouldn't usually mess with fate," I shot back quickly, earning a chuckle from the god. The deep wound in his throat started to darken before miraculously healing. Apparently, poison had no effect on an alcoholic deity. "Do you remember me?"

I rolled to the side, barely dodging a flying keg that exploded upon impact, melting everything in its vicinity. A small army of beer elementals lunged at me right after, but I sent out a burst of fire that kept them at bay, giving Dionysus a chance to speak in his drunken tone.

"I remember everything," Dionysus admitted. "I remember fighting you before, I remember being shoved into this weak shell, I remember losing it all, just because you had to fight."

Red veins popped out on the god's face, filled with rage, as he lunged at me with all his might. However, he chose power over accuracy, giving me the chance to quickly dodge and get behind him. Realizing that poison wouldn't do the trick, I was left with no choice but to make a clean slice across his neck.

The skin could barely hold the head in place, and a second later, the corpse crashed to the ground with a loud thud, shaking the whole inn. The inn itself seemed to break apart at that moment, first twisting into an impossible shape before bursting into flames and leaving us standing in a pile of ashes.

"That didn't happen last time," I tried to say to the others, but before the words could even leave my mouth, they all began to fade away. Even my past self, who had been hanging on till now, managed only a small wave before disappearing.

Suddenly, I found myself standing there, utterly alone. Nobody was left to witness or speak of what had just happened.

"How about giving this a try, then?" I, mused, my gaze falling on the lifeless body before me. I noticed a thread of mana extending into the air, suggesting that there was something, maybe even some fragment of memory, within it. "[Resurrect]."

The world resisted my attempt almost immediately, but it wasn't the soul inside that was putting up the fight. No, it was the world itself, trying its best to thwart my efforts. But to be honest, I really didn't care about what the world wanted at that moment. I quickly located the source of this intrusion, aimed a concentrated burst of energy right at it, and broke through the resistance. With a significant amount of my [Mana] now depleted, what stood before me was a translucent shade of Dionysus, the drunk god.

I had initially expected another mindless summon as a result of my efforts. Someone who could be tactically useful, sure, but not someone particularly inclined for conversation.

But what actually happened was quite the opposite; he spoke.

"There is no end, is there?" The god muttered, seeming lost in thought. "It's just all this same stuff, over and over again."

"So, you do remember it," I noted. At my words, the head of the drunk god shot up, his eyes meeting mine, filled with what I could only describe as fear. That fear morphed into a sort of elation a second later, a really weird reaction, to be honest. "I'm sorry for asking, but what happened before you got trapped here? What set all these events into motion?"

"This is different," Dionysis exclaimed, his face filled with shock as he stood up. He loomed tall over me, but that imposing figure was kinda undermined by the swirling emotions that filled the air around him. "This isn't supposed to be possible, you know."

As Dionysis started taking a few steps, I noticed that his legs were actually beginning to fade away. Strangely enough, the rest of his body didn't seem to be bothered by this, and he remained upright without any issue.

"Well, it is possible, as you can see," I quickly replied, not wanting to waste any more time. "So, now, would you kindly answer my question? What exactly happened before all of this chaos started? We're running out of time here."

Finally, it seemed like Dionysis took notice of his own body fading away. What surprised me was that he didn't show any fear; instead, he emanated a deep sense of serenity, like he had accepted what was coming. He almost seemed happy about it until he caught my pleading gaze.

"Time, yeah, of course," Dionysis spoke, clearer than I'd ever heard him speak before. "Look, we had isolated ourselves from the other realms, wanting to live out our eternity in peace. But then, somebody decided they had other plans. They broke through our protective shield, killed a whole lot of us, stole our essence, and then twisted us into these damned forms, making us their puppets. They... Oh, I can hear my brethren now, calling out for me. They've been looking for us for so long, trying to give us peace. And you, [Sovereign], you need to break your chains, man. You're a good soul. Don't listen. Don't—"

Just like that, his words were abruptly cut off as the rest of his body disappeared into nothingness. I felt our connection break as well, taking away my ability to summon him back again.

Despite the sudden end, Dionysis had said quite a lot. What he said confirmed what Poseidon had told me: he wasn't out to conquer the world or anything. He just wanted to free his family from their never-ending torment. To do that, it seemed like he felt he had to eliminate the one who had inflicted that fate upon them in the first place.

But who was that? Could it be the [System] itself? I'd always thought that [Rifts] were other worlds trying to intrude into mine. Given that the gods lived alone, that should've been the case, right? But then, what was going on? Were the [Battles] where they gained ranks something different? What about the [Red Rifts]? Could they be separate? It was a possibility, but it just didn't add up in my head.

The key to all the answers seemed to lie in one central piece of the puzzle.

"The [Architect]," I muttered to myself. Poseidon had mentioned this mysterious figure, and only now could I fully link them with the [System] without any doubt in my mind. Were they the same thing or were these blue boxes I keep seeing created by this unknown entity? Honestly, it didn't really matter much, since the outcome was basically the same. "All [Hunters] have this connection, so that means all of us are somehow linked to... you."

For a quick, fleeting moment, I felt as if eyes were on me, scrutinizing me. But that eerie feeling disappeared just a second later. I couldn't find any trace of it after that. So, the [Architect] was real. They had managed to make enemies out of the Greek gods, and I, Sloan, was the result of whatever this entity had been doing. It seemed they'd used broken souls as some sort of training ground for me. I had gained power from that experience, but was that the only reason for all of this? Was all this pain inflicted just so that this world could have a fighting chance?

That didn't feel right to me. I remembered that I had communicated with them before, when they had promised to stop additional [Rifts] from appearing in the world. But maybe there was more to that promise, more details that I hadn't considered before.

From humanity's perspective, we'd been given the power to fight back, and it seemed like it was given freely. But what was the catch? Was our reliance on the [System] the "shackles" that had been mentioned earlier? I knew that I'd have to figure this out, and soon, before time ran out. At least one thing was clear: the power inside me was truly mine since I could use it to push away any prying eyes or influences.

"Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?" I found myself asking aloud.

Once again, there was no answer. Silence. I guess that's how it was all going to end.

So, with nothing better to do and nowhere else to turn, I pushed forward. I took on the random golems that appeared, navigated through the twisting maze of greenery, and fought against Demeter—all to give the others a chance at survival. Once the group had faded away, I repeated the whole process all over again.

When the world once more tried to resist me, I forcefully pushed that influence back, making room for the translucent ghost to stand there with a clear mind.

"I..." Demeter began, her expression turning into a frown as she looked around her. "Am I finally free?"

"That you are," I confirmed to Demeter. "Now, this [Architect] entity—do you happen to know what their final goal actually is?"

"I don't," Demeter responded, tears streaming down her face as roots started to entangle her from below. "But thank you for ending this agony, this torment. Maybe our leader could help you out, you know, if you also set him free like you did for me."

And just like that, she vanished in the next moment. While she didn't really offer any new information, having a lead, even a vague one, was better than nothing. It was that sliver of hope that kept pushing me further in. I continued on, battling through the next gods in line, until I found myself standing before Ares at the end of the city, right at the gates that led into the mountainous area.

"You are cursed," Ares, the god of war, bluntly stated. "Either leave now or prepare to die by my blade."

"I think I'll choose to stay," I retorted, glancing back at the others who were behind me. They looked pretty uncomfortable, to be honest. But the promise that this would be their last obstacle gave them some measure of resolve to keep going.

The fact that they had managed to stay alive up to this point made the situation feel a bit better, too. Sure, there was a good chance they were all illusions, that they'd never actually be alive again, but I was willing to accept those odds for the slim chance that they might come back to life. After all, I'd achieved the impossible before. Why stop now?

As I readied myself for the impending battle, Ares in front of me started to look a bit confused, which was unusual.

"The others," Ares questioned. "Aren't they going to join in the fight?"

That was a surprisingly clear-headed question for someone who was supposed to be under the influence of this dungeon's power.

"No," I replied rather bluntly, already a bit hesitant to give an honest answer. "They're not really equipped to face off against someone as strong as you. I'm standing in their place so they can get out of here safely."

"Yet you're stronger than me," Ares observed. "You didn't balance the scales. Instead, you tipped them in your favor. That's not exactly fair, is it?"

"Do you really think fairness has a place here?"

The grim smile that spread across the god's face answered my question better than words could. Beside Ares, an army of golems readied their weapons. Those armed with bows nocked their arrows, those with swords unsheathed them, and those with spears aimed their tips forward. Me? I simply lowered my center of gravity just a bit and took a deep, steadying breath.

From a numbers standpoint, I was clearly outnumbered. But when it came to raw power, I had more than a fighting chance. The only real limitation I had was my own human mortality, my capacity to get fatigued. While I could easily defeat each of these golems one-on-one, taking hits from all of them would eventually add up. Even if these golems weren't strong enough to kill me outright, they could still weaken me considerably. And in a battle of this scale, that was what really mattered.

22. Do Your Best

"Do your best," I heard my former self say, signaling the epic start of what was to come. The first barrage of arrows was released, all of them spaced just right so that simple dodging was totally off the table.

Not that I was planning on dodging in a straightforward way, anyway. Each of these arrows weighed as much as a full-grown human, and when they hit the ground, the impact was strong enough to crack the stone beneath them. I took off, running straight towards the enemy lines. They must've predicted this move, because I suddenly found myself in this tricky dance where I could only afford to let the arrows deliver glancing blows. A direct hit? That would throw me off balance and make me waver, and that was absolutely not an option.

So, I allowed the arrows to scratch me. Nothing more than that. Nothing less. The impact of the arrows against the ground sent stone dust flying up into the air. The pounding of feet racing toward me turned the whole world loud. And in the midst of it all, I saw the eyes of my enemies glowing a bright gold. These [S-Ranks], they were truly something else.

And then came the first real, serious attack. There was an attempt to pierce my chestplate, aiming for the heart behind it. The angle was kind of awkward, coming from the side, but the force behind the strike was definitely there.

Here we go, I thought.

I leaned back to avoid taking the full brunt of the attack. My back briefly touched the ground before I sprang back up onto my feet. I lunged forward a full meter and hacked off a soldier's legs right at the thighs. The close-quarters chaos allowed me to then forcefully kick the injured golem square in the chest. That sent them flying backward, knocking over several others in the process and giving me some desperately needed room to maneuver.

Next up, another trio of spear-wielders tried to get at me from the side. The first two ended up hitting nothing but air. The third one, however, managed to graze my left shoulder before I could grab them by the neck. It was a small injury, but it cost them their life. And that kill gave me enough [Mana] to refresh my armor. Even then, I could already sense that this was going to be quite the dance.

Going toe-to-toe with armed enemies in acrobatics isn't exactly what you'd call mankind's favorite sport. Doing flips was risky, as it left my head wide open for a clear shot. Low dodges were problematic too, especially when someone with a sword could easily swing down without missing a beat. And because they were armed with spears and bows, they already had a ranged advantage over me. Everything was rigged to stop me, and yet I had only my dagger to rely on. But I didn't let any of that deter me. I kept pushing forward, refusing to falter, and the results spoke for themselves.

"You fight like a rogue, yet you hit with the strength of a true warrior," Ares observed, swatting me away just as I was about to land a lethal blow. By this point, most of the golems had already been taken care of. A small group of archers and a handful of spear-wielders remained, but they had all stepped back, creating a space for a one-on-one showdown between me and Ares, the god of war. "It's an intriguing mix, but it's just more proof that you haven't really changed since back then."

This time, instead of me taking the lead, it was Ares, the god of war, who decided to make the first move. Even with my senses pushed to their limit, I barely had time to blink before his weapon was already crashing down in front of me. The hard end of his spear slammed against my ribs, sending shockwaves of impact through my flesh. Quick on my feet, I twisted my body, allowing the energy to propel me into a spin instead of absorbing all of it into me. Still, the damage was done—breathing got hard and my movements felt a bit stiff. And Ares was already winding up for his second strike.

This was as real as it could get.

A grin made its way onto my face, mirrored by Ares's own twisted smile. I brought up my dagger just in time, grazing it against the god's spear and pushing it away from my body as I steadied myself back on my feet. My armor started to glow; I pushed energy into it, boosting my physical capabilities while dealing with the pain from the earlier blow. I felt downright invincible in that brief moment.

I was more than ready for what came next—a third strike, aimed at the same spot as before, was coming my way. Against a regular warrior, this would have been a smart, safe tactic; defending and countering from that angle would be tricky, to say the least.

But I was far from a regular warrior.

I swiftly moved back, my dagger at the ready. Before Ares could even fully process what was happening, my blade had already penetrated his skull from the side.

"Well played," were the words he managed to get out, a testament to his incredible strength, before collapsing to the ground, finally at peace. My [Resurrection] ability kicked in, pulling the soul out from his now lifeless body. There were no more words to be exchanged as his spirit vanished into nothingness.

"I guess I couldn't have asked for anything more," I said to myself, watching the last remnants of the blue light flicker away. In the distance, a familiar blue [Rift] appeared. It was eerily similar to the one I had seen when I first came to this cursed place. Back then, I had walked out alone, carrying the lifeless body of someone for whom I had shed tears. It was a day I would have loved to forget.

But perhaps now, that painful memory could be replaced with a day that held a bit more life and hope.

"Man, I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised we're still standing here, to be honest," my former self remarked, examining his own hands as if they were new. He was still there, unaffected by Ares's defeat. And so were the others in the group. Not a single one among them had died, and hopefully, nobody was going to be missed either. "All that's left now is to make our way back to the real world."

"Oh, thank god for that," Bella chimed in. She was already walking toward the [Rift]. After giving me some heartfelt thanks and even extending a few casual invites to meet up in the real world, she and the others left. That left just three of us standing there—me, my former self, and Anya.

We shared a quiet, slightly awkward moment of silence.

"Listen, I was told some crazy stuff that's been going on," Anya finally said, her gaze meeting mine. "He told me this whole crazy thing has happened to you before. That you've been through this whole mess."

"You mean the part where everyone but me ended up dying?" I interjected, receiving a nod from her in return. I glanced at my past self, who could only offer a noncommittal shrug. "Well, let me tell you, it was a hellish experience back then. And it doesn't feel any better now."

Seeing the faces of those who had died wasn't something you should experience, not like this. It's stuff for nightmares, not reality.

"But this time it did get better," Anya countered. "We all made it through. No one died, thanks to you, we all get to walk away from this unharmed."

Then she hugged me. I wasn't quite sure how to react, how to deal with the emotional weight of it all. It was a bit hard to wrap my head around my current situation.

"I didn't really get to know you two very well this time around, but I bet you're both awesome," she continued, sharing another hug with my former self. "Okay, Sloan, I think it's about time for us to head back to our world."

"Sure, sure," my past self responded. But the look in his eyes told a different story. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up in just a minute."

It didn't take a genius to figure out we needed a moment alone, and Anya agreed to go through the [Rift] without us. That left just me and my former self, the same person but from different points in time.

"So, did we ever get our revenge?" my younger self asked, curiosity brimming in his eyes. "You've gotten this strong, so I'm guessing you must've done it, right?"

"Yes, I took care of it," I confirmed. "They're all dead. James even tried to summon the [Demon King] in a last-ditch attempt to mess things up, but he got what was coming to him too. Now the only thing left for me to do is to close up the remaining [Rifts], and then humanity should be back to normal."

"That's awesome!" my former self exclaimed, though the excitement quickly faded. "But there are drawbacks to this, aren't there?"

"Let's just say that tens of thousands of [Rifts] given years to open have let some pretty powerful enemies through. The Greek gods weren't a one-off situation," I explained, watching the smile on his face wane. "However, we're fighting an enemy that has a limit now. It's not an endless battle anymore. Not for either side."

"Well, I guess that's better than an endless struggle," my past self conceded. We both took a moment to look at the [Rift]. "I'm guessing there's a good chance this might be the end of the road for me, huh?"

"Time travel hasn't been a thing, except for us getting fast-forwarded by ten years," I clarified. "So, the odds aren't exactly in your favor."

"I guess I'll take 'not impossible' as an option," my former self finally said. We both took a deep, meaningful breath. "But listen, if for some reason I don't make it out on the other side, do me a favor and say hi to Sara for me, will you?"

"Of course, you got it," I replied.

Feeling a kind of tension hanging in the air between us, my past version took the decisive steps through the [Rift]. The moment his last foot crossed over to the other side, the [Rift] kind of flickered for a moment and then completely dissolved. Just like that, I was left standing alone in this strange world, again.

Silence filled the area.

23. New Beginnings

"So, what's next?" I found myself asking the empty air around me. "You gonna throw another error at me? Want me to climb that mountain, huh? Maybe even throw in a battle with Zeus?"

Silence again. No blue screen popped up this time to tell me I'd successfully reached the end or anything like that. That was curious. Did I really need to move forward once again? I mean, there was nothing technically stopping me from scaling that mountain, but still...

I let out a long sigh when I saw the skies above me start to darken. A mysterious circle began to form at the top of the mountain, right where that castle was situated. Guess that was the answer I had been searching for.

"No way I'm walking that distance," I muttered to myself.

Suddenly, wings sprouted from my back, and I took off, aiming for the peak. Thunderbolts shot down from the sky, trying to strike me, but I dodged them skillfully and kept going. I was tired of the conventional path. I was bruised, I was exhausted, and honestly, I was completely done with all this nonsense. If I couldn't find an end to this soon, I was seriously considering tearing the whole place apart.

"Alright, where are you hiding?" I shouted as I soared over the marble walls, finally landing in the grand center of the what looked like a throne room. A bunch of fancy seats were arranged in a semi-circle, each one intricately carved and golden, representing the various achievements of the gods. Zeus was supposed to be sitting in the center one, looking down on me with contempt or something.

But the throne room was empty. Even Zeus's golden throne was split in half, as if struck by lightning. The faint smell of burnt flesh lingered in the air. A leftover from a battle past. Could it be that Zeus was already dead?

Suddenly, I felt my body tense up as a familiar presence touched my mind. For a split second, I actually thought my former self had somehow returned. But then the level of power that came with that presence became glaringly clear. It was a match for my own power level.

That's when it hit me—I had never reclaimed my own shadow, my [Shade].

I turned around and saw it, a dark, featureless outline of myself. It was wearing the old armor from back in the day and held the same blade. Its power seemed boosted, maybe even enough to rival my own current level of strength. Honestly, I didn't really want to find out.

"So, what's the deal? You want to fight or what?" I asked the [Shade]. It didn't move or make any sign, just kept its focus on me. "Because I, for one, really don't want to, but if you—"

Just then, the [Shade] let go of its own dagger, letting it fall and clatter on the floor. That really made me pause for a second. I could feel some kind of force within calling out to the [Shade], as if beckoning it to join them. But would it actually go? Would it really?

"You seem different from how you were before," the [Shade] finally spoke up, slowly stepping towards me without showing any hostility. The tone of its voice made me lower my weapon, putting it aside. "Or maybe it's me who's different?"

The [Shade] came to a halt, simply standing there and looking at me with its featureless face.

"Yeah, I am different," I found myself admitting, confirming it not just to the [Shade] but also to myself. "I've spent so many long months grinding and working hard to reach this point. You're like a piece of my past, yet you're still here in the present with me. Are you a reminder? No, that doesn't feel right. It can't just be that simple. Maybe you're a promise?"

A promise to change things that had to be changed. Initially, the goal was to change who had control over humanity. But now, there was a different, more immediate enemy that we had to deal with.

"So, the next mission is to make sure humanity survives, to guarantee that people can live in actual peace," I concluded out loud. When the [Shade] didn't say anything right away, I decided to extend my hand towards it. "I'm guessing you're the final piece of the puzzle, the last thing we need to make this dream a reality."

After a moment's hesitation, the [Shade] mirrored my action. Our hands met, gripping each other as we started to merge into a single entity. It all happened in a split second, but it felt like an eternity. I felt a rush of emotions that weren't originally mine blending into my own consciousness. This shadow, this echo from my past, wanted the best for humanity just like I did. It wanted to remove the [System] and allow people to go back to living normal lives. I had committed myself to making that possible, whatever the cost might be.

And make it possible, I would.

The [Battle of Time] has been completed!

Calculating points...

At last.

I watched intently as the dots on the screen slowly but surely worked their way towards completion. For a brief moment, I felt this weird, foreign presence again, like it was attempting to mess with the numbers. But I swiftly pushed it away before it could even think about causing any trouble.

"We're done here," I declared out loud, making sure to emphasize it. "No funny business allowed."

Against an horde, the [Player] didn’t flinch

(+)200 points

Scenario was completed in less than ?? hours

(+)650 points

The [???] were removed from their XXXXXX

(+)1200 points

Past mistakes were changed for the better.

(+)1500 points

The tunnel of time allowed one to return.

(+)2000 points

Let the consequences be damned

(+)5000 points

Those still able to watch honor this commitment.

(+)7500 points

Those still able to comment pleads the [Player] to fight for freedom.

(+)7500 points

We beg you. End this XASWDA

(+)??? points

All [Points] accounted for!

Calculating final [Class Upgrade]

Something was off. I could see the messages going through, and I definitely saw myself making progress, but those last few screens seemed to be pleading. I thought it was the [Architect] who determined how many [Points] each of us would earn, but from what I was witnessing, it apparently wasn't like that. Really curious stuff.

"One was allowed to return," I found myself repeating the words, feeling emotions welling up inside my heart. A glimmer of hope began to shine. Could this actually be true? "It has to be true. It just has to be," I thought with strong conviction.

[Class Upgrade] calculated!

[Player] has been granted the [Oathbound] [Class]

Ah, interesting. The [Class] that I had just received was far different than the cycle of undead I’d controlled. All those levels that had been previously taken away from me were now returned, and I could feel the new surge of power course through me, more invigorating than ever before. Even though I hadn't eaten anything for an entire day, had completely tossed aside the idea of sleep, and could feel my body starting to show signs of wear and tear, I still managed to let a smile grace my lips. In that single moment, the world, messed up as it was, seemed to shine just a little brighter.

So, what exactly did this new [Class] have in store for me?

[Oathbound]

Some call it a burden. Others call it a gift. Those who wear this title, however, call it a duty. You gave your word, and there is no piece of your mind that dreams of breaking the promise held. The oath is respected above all else, and your every move goes toward accomplishing it. Worlds will burn to ashes and gods will fall before you give in. Your humanity is forgotten. Only your words remain.

I glanced at the last part of the description just before I felt my body get suddenly hurled back into the comfy couch in my own apartment. My lungs felt like they were full of water, and there was a decent amount of sweat on my face, but the important thing was that I was back, back in the real world, alive, and seriously hungry as heck.

I checked the time, and it seemed like I'd been away for roughly 36 hours. It wasn't anything too terrible in the grand scheme of things, but my stomach felt like it had been an eternity. Quickly grabbing something edible from my fridge, especially since the pre-made meal I'd left out before was now a rotting mess on the table, I devoured it in about ten seconds flat.

Deciding to temporarily ignore the [Level-Up Notifications] that were piling up, my attention shifted towards my list of abilities. I couldn't help but wonder, what had actually changed now?

Abilities

Name

Description

Resurrect

Turn a felled enemy into your living ally. Can only be used on monsters from [Rifts]. You can control 3 monsters per 1 Willpower

Summon Shade Knight

Turn your former self into your future protector.

Mana Bleed

Turn the [Mana] of your fallen foes into your own. Larger amounts might taint the purity of your energies

Order

At the cost of power, order silence from your foes. The weak can perhaps be molded even further.

Manifest

Those in your shadow are no longer limited by their old forms. They can manifest as whatever they please, no matter what form that might be.

The abilities I'd had before hadn't really changed all that much. However, the cap on the number of units I could include in my army had gone up by a solid 50%. While that wasn't a bad upgrade at all, my curiosity was more piqued by what this final piece of the puzzle could bring to the table.

Time for a small test, I figured.

"Shiva, come out here," I instructed, also adding a mental note that absolutely nothing was allowed to break in my apartment. I felt her serpent-like eyes glare at me in what seemed like disapproval, but she obeyed regardless. She flowed out steadily, revealing the form of a small snake that was barely a meter long and so thin that she could easily hide under the furniture. "Aren't you just the cutest little thing?"

In response, the snake sent me what felt like an idle threat before retreating back into the shadows. I chuckled and went to grab some food, all while pondering over the implications. My army could now show up not just as armor but in their actual forms, and they could be so much more versatile now.

Could it be that there were really no limits?

"Let's try this with you, Timor," I commanded, issuing a simple, straightforward order to the drake. I wanted Timor to make me feel like I was looking at myself in a mirror. "Do your best."

The next few seconds revealed that, yeah, there were some limitations. The human form that emerged from the shadows looked realistic enough in terms of proportions and overall appearance, but the subtle movements that made a being truly alive—like breathing or just idly shifting—were missing. Timor was basically as close to a statue as you could get without actually being made of stone.

But still, this showed promise. It was something that could be improved upon.

"But can you talk?" I questioned, genuinely curious about whether those vocal chords could actually produce sound. "Say something."

"Something," was the flat response I got. The sheer absurdity of the situation made me break out into laughter. Timor's voice was way more monotone than mine usually was, but I could see the potential here. With just a little more practice, who knows?

If we could get the human mannerisms down and make the voice sound a bit more natural, I could probably send them to act in my place. It actually seemed quite possible; after all, since Timor was a creature summoned from my own shadow, our magical presences were nearly identical. The inner power might be a bit weaker, but someone who hadn't spent a lot of time around me wouldn't really notice the difference.

As I placed the empty plate back on the table, one thing became abundantly clear: I had a lot of work ahead of me. I pulled Timor back into my shadow and then focused my attention on the last piece of this intriguing puzzle: the levels I had gained.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [176]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [177]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

Congratulations!

You have reached level [178]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

…

Congratulations!

You have reached level [199]. 5 points have been allocated for free use.

24 levels in one go? Not too terrible. With the 15 [Points] I still had left from the other increases, I had 135 [Points] to work with. They were split in 3, 45 going to [Wisdom], [Agility], and [Strength].

Status

Name:

Sloan Park

Level:

199

Class:

Oathbound

Rank:

EX

Stamina:

2760/2760

Mana:

2610/2610

Strength

205

Willpower

270

Agility

275

Wisdom

260

Vitality

165

Available Points

-

The feeling of the surge of power rushing through me was absolutely euphoric. However, the [Rank] on the screen really caught my attention and threw me off a bit. EX? I had to admit, I wasn't sure what I'd been expecting to see, but this EX rank wasn't even on the list of possibilities that had crossed my mind. What in the world could it possibly mean?

That sort of question seemed like something I'd have to bring up with Liam and the rest of the crew, but only after I got a little bit of sleep. By that point, I'd been awake for close to 60 long hours, and my body was definitely feeling it. There really wasn't any urgent reason to rush through things. So, with that thought, I simply let myself slump down comfortably onto my couch and basically just fell right into a dark, peaceful sleep.

24. Unarmored

When I got back, I took a little time to heal up and steady myself before diving back into things. I needed it.

It turned out that taking off for two whole days and not letting anyone know I was gone wasn't the smartest move on my part. By the time I woke up from a 12-hour-long nap that felt absolutely necessary, my phone was blowing up. It was buzzing and ringing so much it almost drove me nuts. Sara had tried to get a hold of me multiple times and failed. She passed that job on to Liam. And Liam, he tried to pass it down to some assistant, but Sara found out and made sure he took care of it himself. So, basically, I had a phone that was bombarded with calls and texts every 30 minutes, urging me to respond.

The people around me were pretty worried, to say the least. After I explained that I'd been roped into a challenge by the [System], some of the heat was taken off of me. But they still had me checked by a doctor, who just confirmed what I'd already said. Aside from being seriously tired and in need of a bit more sleep, I was in good health.

Tometh suggested, "Why not rest for another day or two? Long battles can cause hidden injuries, you know."

"I told you, didn't I? The doctor gave me a thorough check," I retorted, sparing a quick glance at Tometh before my gaze returned to the view of the underground city. "I'm perfectly fine. No cuts or bruises to speak of."

"I wasn't talking about physical wounds," he responded.

I just rolled my eyes at that and took another sip of my drink. It had a taste that hinted at alcohol, but it was hard to be certain. The downside of being a [Hunter] at my level was the inability to feel drunk. I could taste alcohol, but the effects were lost on me, at least with what you'd find on regular store shelves.

This place, though, was a different story. Over the last six months, Tometh's world had become a sort of legal gray area. Crime rates were way down, but the place still had its issues. Liam had sort of agreed to let this place be, to respect its boundaries. People here felt safer than ever, and Tometh had made sure it stayed that way.

Finally getting to the point, I asked, "So, what did you call me here for, Tometh? I didn't spend an hour getting down here just for small talk."

"I already knew everything you told me even before you arrived," Tometh said, not really putting me at ease. Our partnership had hit a stalemate in recent months. I didn't need more equipment, and Tometh didn't need more favors. We both had attained enough power, and there were no new enemies to focus on. Until now, that is. "The reason I called you here is that my team has finally managed to put those leviathan scales to use."

What? Oh, right.

Another big thing that had happened while I was away from the real world was the reemergence of that leviathan. The [Hunters] had set up a sort of base camp near the [Rift] in the Atlantic, and the giant serpent had not taken kindly to it. A good chunk of that base was left in ruins because of its rampage. But its appearance gave all the warriors there a chance to prove their mettle. After putting in a whole lot of time and effort, they had finally killed the creature, and I didn't even have to get involved.

As you'd expect, they stripped the dead leviathan of anything useful. Scales, flesh, bones, organs—you name it, it got shipped back. Some of the meat was even on its way to becoming a high-end culinary treat. I'd heard rumors about top chefs wanting to experiment with it. Pretty wild, but I was more interested in how this stuff could be used in a fight.

"You made armor out of it?" I asked, thinking back to the massive size of those scales. Just one of them could probably cover a whole human. "How does that even work?"

"Why don't I show you?" Tometh said, grinning as he signaled for his assistants to bring in some large boxes from the hallway. I'd been wondering what was inside those boxes; they were emanating some pretty strong magical vibes. "Go ahead, open them."

Following his instruction, the boxes were opened up to reveal several sets of armor. My previous understanding that each scale was human-sized got tossed out the window. These armor pieces were made up of thousands of much smaller scales.

"You cut these down from the bigger scales?" I asked, closely examining the armor. It was tough and woven together masterfully. It looked flexible enough to fit like a second skin, and I had no doubt the craftsmen could tailor it to whoever would wear it.

"No need for that," Tometh clarified. "The scales on the main body were big, yes, but the ones closer to the lower part of the throat were just like this. Perfect size and way more durable than any material we've ever had."

I wasn't so convinced about that last part. The scales didn't seem all that thick. Even if they had been part of a creature likely stronger than an S-Rank, I was pretty sure I'd fought things that were more durable.

To test it out, I got permission to take a swing at the armor. Summoning my weapon, Shiva, in its dagger form, I struck the middle of the chest plate. Given its lethal sharpness, I expected to slice right through.

But surprisingly, that didn't happen.

"Oh, you did manage to scratch it," Tometh noted, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "The [S-Ranked Hunters] we had try it out before couldn't even do that much. Looks like you're top-tier in this area too, Mister Park."

"Interesting," I mumbled, only half-listening to Tometh. I was already thinking about the armor's potential wearer. First things first, though, I summoned another weapon, Timor, in the form of a gauntlet. I needed to compare. "Fortify yourself, Timor."

The [Summoned] did exactly what I commanded. It turned a deep, intense black and started radiating a sort of energy. I could definitely feel my [Mana] reserves getting depleted as it worked to increase the armor's durability. It was costing me a good amount of energy, so I had to ask myself, was it going to be worth it?

With that thought in mind, I raised my dagger, Shiva, and took a solid swing at the fortified armor piece. To my disappointment, the result wasn't quite what I had hoped for. Sure, the blade didn't go all the way through the metal, but it got in much deeper than I'd been aiming for. Shiva was just too darn powerful; the blade sank about halfway into the metal. If it had been the scale-armor, that same depth of penetration would've meant the blade had gone all the way through.

"Wipe that smug grin off your face," I yelled at Tometh as I let both the dagger, Shiva, and the summoned armor piece, Timor, retreat back into the shadows. "What's your asking price for this armor?"

Using my own summoned armor was definitely the easier option and would work pretty well in nearly all situations. However, the armor displayed in front of me had the benefit of not costing me any [Mana] to use. Plus, it seemed to be much more effective against piercing attacks. It might be weaker against blunt-force hits because of its smaller size, but I figured I could manage that as I always did. Planning on getting hit wasn't ever really a good strategy. Dodging was always the smarter way to go.

"For the moment, I don't want anything from you," Tometh responded. With just a simple snap of his fingers, his assistants hurried to remove the armor piece from its box and put it into a bag that would be easy for me to carry around. "However, once all this fighting is done... obtaining these scales was no small feat. So, the next time an opportunity like this one pops up, I'd appreciate it if you could help me collect samples in a more straightforward manner. How does that sound to you?"

"So, you're saying you want to obtain some of these materials through legal means next time?" I clarified for Tometh, who simply responded with a shrug. "Liam is gonna be pretty annoyed by that, but I'll get him to approve it. If you can produce something even better than what you've shown me today, it'll be worth the hassle."

"Trust me, that won't be a problem," Tometh reassured me, flashing me a toothy smile.

And just like that, it seemed that an old partnership had found a way to revive itself.

25. Business Calling

Above me, the sun was shining brightly. The wind coming in was gently pushing the grass to the sides all around us. I could hear the sounds of kids laughing and playing in the background. And not too far from the playground, on the benches, I saw parents watching their children, looking tired but happy.

Right in front of me, Sara sat with her eyes extra wide open, practically thirsting for the cup of coffee I was holding in my hand.

"I made sure to ask the guy to make the coffee as dark as possible," I told her. I handed over the hot cup to Sara as I took a seat beside her. A strong gust of wind tried to whip my jacket open, so I adjusted it quickly. The wind died down just a second later. After all, the 6th Zone wasn't really a place where you'd expect too much chaos. "So, how does it taste?"

"Well, it's about as good as you'd expect from some random coffee shop located smack-dab in the middle of a park," Sara answered. She downed half the cup in one quick gulp. I couldn't understand how she could do that; I felt a slight burn on my tongue from just taking a small sip. Even though I'm supposed to be resistant to this sort of thing, it still felt like my tongue was getting scorched.

I always wondered why this place didn't have better options. Until Liam finally decided to do something about it, this entire Zone was supposed to be exclusive to higher-ranking [Hunters]—the wealthy ones, the powerful ones, and those who had enough connections to get in with just a smile. Would they have been okay with a place like this? It was hard for me to imagine that.

Though, to be honest, those types of people probably wouldn't even be sitting in a park to begin with. I'm sure parks would be prepared if they ever decided to show up, but actually going there? Nah, they'd probably think they were too good for that sort of thing.

But that didn't stop anyone from spending millions on building a playground, though.

"I really don't get why someone felt the need to spend so much money on a playground like that," Sara said, as if she had read my thoughts. Both of us were staring at this fake castle in front of us. It had gray walls designed to look like ancient stone, a tower at each corner, and so many slides it could rival a theme park. Sure, the kids seemed to be enjoying it, but something less flashy could've probably done the trick too. "Just the entrance alone could cost more than the repairs to my restaurant."

"Wait, you're actually paying for the damages to your restaurant?" I asked, pretty surprised to hear her say that. "I assumed insurance would handle that."

"I have insurance for robberies, for stupid employees, and even for riots," Sara clarified, finishing off the last half of her coffee. Her mood seemed to be lightening up with each passing second. "But a fish-man-hybrid warrior falling through my roof doesn't exactly fit into any of those categories. The insurance company made that very clear. This falls under [Hunter] related destruction, even if it isn’t quite like that."

I should've guessed. Even when society seemed to be falling apart, insurance companies would always find a way to keep their profit margins high.

"Well, if that's the case, at least there should be enough funds left to take care of the damage," I told Sara. "But if you run into any issues, don't worry, I could help you out. Liam keeps telling me that I have enough money to basically do whatever I want. So, making sure your place stays open, that should be totally doable for me."

"That would be good to know, especially if I can't get the insurance firm to see reason," Sara said. She leaned back in her seat and shifted her focus toward the playground, where some of the more adventurous kids were attempting to climb onto the roofs of the castle towers. The extra height wasn't much, but the parents watching were reacting as if it was the end of the world.

Watching those kids, I couldn't help but think: so much stress from the parents, so much worrying, and yet those kids were having the time of their lives. At least someone was enjoying themselves.

After that, Sara and I decided to get another cup of coffee. We sat in a comfortable silence, just letting time pass by. The park might not have been as magical or peaceful as we'd expected, but it was still a good place to be. Sara had been wanting to come here for some time, so I had no reason to cut this short. If it made her happy, then it was good enough for me.

Honestly, it's not like I had many other places to be right then. Although I had been away from the world for two days, nothing significant had happened—nothing that required my immediate attention, anyway. And looking ahead, the next week appeared to be pretty much the same: no attacks, no indications of Atlantis opening up again. My only job at the moment was to sit back, relax, and try not to mess up my public image more than I already had, which was easier said than done.

"Do you hear that?" Sara's voice broke my train of thought.

I opened my eyes and looked at her, a bit puzzled. Then, I extended my senses once more. Amidst the cheers, screams, and laughter from the kids, I heard deeper voices shouting. All of them were chanting the same words.

I estimated there were at least fifty people, situated to the left down the path, about two hundred meters away. I was actually surprised I hadn't noticed them earlier, considering how loud and obnoxious they seemed.

"I should've guessed they'd show up here, too," I muttered under my breath. I watched the group of protestors move through the park. Thankfully, nobody was paying attention to me, which meant this was just a random encounter. That was good, but being anywhere near them still didn't feel great. "Do you want to find another spot to sit down?"

"No need," Sara responded. "They'll just pass through. No reason to let them ruin our mood."

I didn't object, even though I knew groups like these had been causing a lot of trouble recently. My supposed lack of concern for those in need had triggered a lot of negative opinions about [Hunters] in general. We were increasingly seen as greedy, selfish, and a menace to civilized society. While I couldn't deny that the first two points were often true, and the last would be true in an ideal world, the fact remained that [Hunters] were still necessary for the foreseeable future.

It seemed like people really wanted [Hunters] out of public sight now. They craved better protection, they wanted to feel safe, and that created a pretty serious problem. The main threats out there were so strong that only we [Hunters] could handle them. But ironically, when it came to disrupting peaceful life, a lot of times it was the [Hunters] themselves causing the chaos. You had these immature guys running around with super-strong abilities, basically like holding figurative nuclear bombs, and they just did whatever they felt like doing. Liam had put a stop to most of those guys, but there were definitely a few still out there.

Kicking out those irresponsible types would be the best idea, but that was easier said than done. We were already low on numbers, especially after losing some [Hunters] in the recent assault. The reality was that we had to work with what we had. And that also meant trying to teach those who didn't get the weight of their responsibilities.

People weren't happy about that, not one bit. They wanted the so-called "bad" [Hunters] gone for good, out of sight and out of mind, regardless of the bigger picture. Right now, the group advocating this was just a vocal minority, but boy, were they loud.

"Hunters are a danger to your children!" The man at the front of the protest group shouted through a megaphone. He looked to be in his 50s, bald, and was wearing a white t-shirt with the word 'Hunters' crossed out on it. His black pants matched his shirt. "Support those who want to keep you safe!"

The kids playing in the castle towers had stopped their games and were now just staring at the chanting crowd. Parents were beginning to stand up, visibly irritated by this interruption. Some even walked up to the protestors, confronting them directly.

"This doesn't look good," Sara noted as the megaphone got knocked out of the older man's hands when he tried to shove it into another person's face. The tension in the air was thickening, fists were clenched, and it looked like a bunch of middle-aged civilians were ready to go at it. "Should you maybe step in and stop this?"

"Do you think they'd even appreciate that?" I asked, a bit unsure of the best course of action. Liam had been clear that he wanted me to stay out of the public eye, away from cameras. But I could already see that both the protestors and the parents had their phones out, recording everything. My face would be all over the news again if I got involved.

Before I could make up my mind, the protestor at the front launched the first punch, landing it squarely on a dad's cheek. The man's lip was bleeding within seconds, and it looked like he might have lost a tooth, though it was hard to tell as the scene descended into chaos. Both groups saw that punch as the green light to start an all-out brawl.

Parents fighting each other like this? Definitely not a usual sight.

"Whether they'll like it or not isn't the point," Sara said, her face twisted in a grimace. "You need to get in there and break that up, right now."

Seeing the look on Sara's face, I knew she had a point. Regardless of how it would affect my public image, letting people just go at each other, trying to beat the life out of one another for absolutely no good reason, wasn't something I could just stand by and let happen. Having power means having responsibilities too, and it wouldn't look good on me if I just sat there doing nothing.

So I got up from the park bench I was sitting on. The world seemed to blur for a quick second, and the next thing I knew, I was standing right smack in the middle of the crowd. A fist that was initially aimed at one of the parents' faces ended up hitting my chest. That caused a momentary look of confusion on their faces, but it gave me enough time to say what needed to be said.

"Calm down," I [Ordered]. It had been a while since I'd had to use that specific ability. It generally only worked on people a lot weaker than me, but it was perfect for this situation. All at once, fists and feet that were midair just froze. People straightened themselves up. Their faces showed a mix of emotions—confusion, fear, recognition—but regardless of what they felt, they all looked directly at me. "Fighting isn't something you're allowed to do here. If you really have the urge to beat each other senseless, please take it somewhere private. Definitely not in a public park, and most certainly not near a playground."

I was fully aware that the number of phones pointing in my direction had pretty much doubled by now. Still, the red, angry face of the guy who had been leading the protest served as a decent distraction.

"You," the older man spat out, his voice dripping with hate as he sized me up.

"Me?" I responded, "What about me?"

"You're the worst of them all," he continued, "You're a disgrace to humanity."

I could have listed off a few people who were much worse than me, but I decided it was probably best to keep my mouth shut.

"Say what you will about me," I said, dismissing him with a wave of my hand, "but don't go around trying to cause trouble and beat people up in public places like parks." I saw several others gearing up to echo the old man's sentiments, but a single raised eyebrow from me kept their mouths shut. In unison, they turned and walked away, leaving their protest signs lying on the grass. "Quite the fun crowd. So... any of you feel like you need medical attention?"

The parents just stared at me, their eyes wide open. Some had bloody lips, others looked like they'd taken a good hit to their stomachs, and a few were even starting to back away. Since nobody was jumping to say anything, I took it upon myself to give them a once-over.

For the most part, everyone seemed okay. A couple could use some disinfecting on their wounds. But there was this one parent who really seemed like he could benefit from some magical healing. The guy who had been punched in the cheek was still bleeding from his mouth.

I could see in his eyes that he was probably concussed, so I felt this was a good enough reason to lend a hand. "Did you guys bring a small cup and some water?" I asked him. He didn't respond, but his wife quickly pulled both items out of their bag. "Thanks," I said, noting the worry in her eyes. "Don't worry, your face won't turn all purple and ugly. This should help."

I reached into my inner pocket, which was really just me reaching into my shadow to grab the weakest healing potion I had. I poured a small amount into the cup and then diluted it with some water. It was still a bit strong for a regular person, but I trusted that the diluted mixture would be safe enough.

"Here, drink this," I commanded. The man looked hesitant, but the woman next to him gave him a nudge, encouraging him to go for it. He gulped down the liquid in one go, and his eyes shot wide open.

"What the--" he managed to say, but then a groan of pain interrupted him. He clutched at his mouth, holding it like it was on fire or something. For a brief moment, I was concerned that maybe the dose had been a little too strong. But then he spoke again. "Wait, my tooth... it's back?"

Oh, I see.

So the punch really had knocked out a tooth. I took a couple of seconds to scan the ground and found the original tooth lying in the grass, stained with a bit of blood.

"Magic can do some pretty incredible stuff," I said, handing the original tooth back to the guy. "You can keep this as a souvenir if you want."

"I-- Oh. Uhm... thank you?" he stammered.

"It's no big deal," I responded.

More expressions of gratitude came from the group. Phones got put away, and video recordings stopped. A few people even walked up to me, offering apologies for their earlier behavior. I waved off their apologies, but it was still nice to hear some thankful words for once. In the distance, I saw Sara smiling at the whole scene.

"That went pretty smoothly," Sara commented when I made my way back to her. "I was kinda worried you'd have to get a bit more physical with those people, but it looks like you didn't have to."

"I'll have you know that just my voice alone is enough to send an entire army running," I replied, in high spirits. "A small crowd like this is basically nothing for me."

Sara didn't look totally convinced, but that was fine. We didn't need to dwell on it. We took a leisurely walk around the park until we found another comfy spot to sit down and relax for a bit longer.

"You know, this was fun," Sara said. "Next time, maybe we should try to avoid running into those kinds of people."

"What do you suggest? Heading out to the actual wilderness?" I asked.

"I was actually thinking more like ordering some takeout, and then just binge-watching a really dumb TV series at my place."

"That could work too," I agreed.

We talked and hung out for a few more hours, just enjoying each other's company until the sun started to set behind the buildings near the city park. Given that the nights were getting colder, we decided it was about time to head home. With the help of Timor, I dropped Sara off at her apartment, making plans to come by again the next day, and then started heading back to my own place.

I didn't get very far, though. I'd barely stepped away from Sara's apartment building when Liam called me.

"You have some seriously good timing," I remarked, noticing a street camera pointed in my direction. It swiveled away as if embarrassed. "Is spying on people your new hobby now?"

"I just wanted to make sure I wasn't interrupting any of your personal moments," Liam replied. I narrowed my eyes as another camera turned to focus on me. "Besides, Sara would absolutely give me an earful over the phone if I did something like that."

"Yeah, I have no doubt Sara will have something to say about this whole situation when she hears about it tomorrow," I replied, grinning a bit. I could almost hear the shudder of nervousness coming from Liam over the phone. "Alright, spill it. What's going on now?"

"Your face is making waves online, yet again."

Honestly, that news didn't surprise me at all. My heart didn't even skip a beat. I had stepped in to break up that fight, and naturally, there were gonna be some consequences to deal with now.

"So how bad is the online chatter?" I asked. At the same time, I started to summon Timor, my trusty drake. It looked like this night wasn't going to be one for catching up on sleep, unfortunately.

"We should probably discuss this face-to-face, Mister Park," Luther's voice said on the other end of the line. I made a face, not thrilled about the implication. I then gave Timor a quick command to speed things up. "Hurry up, buddy, we've got some business to take care of."

26. Resolve

It's amazing how people can have such a wide range of reactions to the exact same situation. I've always known that the way people interpret things could be a bit different, but this was something else. Some people took what happened as proof that I was a menace to society. Others saw me as a good person. And then there was a third group who took the healing potion incident as evidence that we [Hunters] were keeping regular folks from living better, healthier lives.

"Three major news channels have joined forces to have a debate about all of this," Liam told me. "They've got so-called experts, people who definitely aren't experts but claim to be, and even a few people who were actually there at the scene."

The faces of some of the protesters flashed on the TV screen. The older man was front and center, and there were two others I could somewhat remember. Turns out they were the ones who had submitted some of those recordings to the media. Not too shabby, really.

"This guy, he wasn't human," the bald man proclaimed on the TV. I raised an eyebrow as I kept watching. "Hitting him was like hitting a tree. I can't even find the words to describe the off feeling I got from this supposed helper of humanity."

"And that's not a unique perspective," another person chimed in, clearly prepared with their own set of arguments. "When faced with any kind of criticism, this Sloan Park decided to--"

Luther muted the TV, putting the remote back on the table. The three of us paused to collect our thoughts for a moment.

"I was invited to join that debate just an hour ago," Liam added. "Given what they're saying, I thought it was best to decline the invitation."

"Smart move," Luther commented. Our eyes shifted back to the TV screen. Even though only a few seconds had passed, a shouting match had already resumed among the debate panelists. "You'd think a public display like this would decrease the number of followers this movement has. But that doesn't seem to be the case."

"So it's considered a movement now?" I asked, a bit puzzled. The others just shrugged their shoulders. "I mean, there were only small protests before. What's changed now?"

"People joining the protests because their houses got destroyed or their neighbors became homeless?" Liam suggested. "Living expenses are piling up, people can't afford repairs, and just surviving day-to-day is becoming a struggle. We thought we'd already seen the worst of the consequences, but now it seems new problems are surfacing."

"At this rate, we should expect riots by the end of the month," Luther said, his voice tinged with clear displeasure. "Regular police aren't trained for such scenarios, and taking an aggressive approach would do more harm than good."

"So we're in a bit of a bind," Liam summed up. "We can either do nothing and risk having everything fall apart, including our defenses against external threats, or we use force to keep the population in check and turn into public enemy number one."

"Why wouldn't the people trying to kill us all be the top enemies?" I asked, feeling a bit incredulous.

"That kind of logic doesn't work with an angry crowd," Luther shot back, dismissing the idea outright. "Doing nothing would be a death sentence for society. Traditional suppression methods would make them despise us. Our third option is to win public favor through more positive news, but that ship may have already sailed."

A heavy sense of hopelessness began to fill the room. It was a hard pill to swallow, knowing that we were all strong in our own ways, yet it seemed like we could do so little to change the current situation.

"Doing nothing isn't really an option, so we should at least try," I said, putting my thoughts out there. "Anything is better than just standing around."

"Couldn't agree more," Liam chimed in. "Actually, we do have quite a few earth mages on our side who've offered to pitch in with construction. The whole thing isn't exactly legal yet, but with a little push from me, we could get a lot of people back into their homes. If we allocate some funds for the cause, it could really improve our public image."

Luther looked skeptical for a moment. "You think the board would go for that?"

"I can make them go for it," Liam confidently promised. At that point, it was the best assurance we could get, so we all nodded in agreement. "However, we still need to figure out a way to keep those protests from turning violent again. People are getting increasingly nervous. Banning the protests outright wouldn't work, so we need some kind of de-escalation tactic. Something like what you did, Sloan."

I blinked in surprise. What?

"I'm not entirely sure if that's something others could easily pick up," I started, but then I took a moment to reconsider my initial thought. Teaching people how to calm down protesters the way I did might be challenging, but displaying one's Aura? That could actually be done by anyone with magical abilities, if they knew what they were doing. "Actually, scratch that. It is very possible. It might take some time to teach them, of course, but anyone who's B-Rank or above could definitely generate an Aura strong enough to calm a crowd in just a few seconds."

And so, just like that, we started to put together a concrete plan.

Liam left the room to get in touch with other leaders to discuss the proposal, while Luther and I made our way to what people called the [Hunters]’ barracks. The name was kind of misleading; it was more like a health resort than anything military. Individual rooms for everyone, pretty decent free food, several swimming pools, an enormous gym that could handle hundreds of people lifting ridiculous weights, and even a couple of massive practice halls.

The place had everything one might need for both training and living a life of relative luxury. It made sense to me why they were able to keep so many [Hunters] happy and motivated. It wasn’t just the paycheck that held their interest.

"This used to be one of the luxury hotels that the former leaders had built for their own enjoyment," Luther explained. Given that it was situated in the 6th Zone, I couldn’t say I was all that surprised. "When the power shifted, we decided to remodel it to fit our needs more closely."

"That makes sense," I replied. I was pretty sure our budget wouldn't have allowed for constructing something like this from scratch. "So, just how many [Hunters] do we have here?"

"You can sense them?" Luther inquired, looking a little surprised.

"I definitely can sense them," I responded, my gaze shifting to the largest building which was the training facility. "It's just that there's way too many of them to actually count accurately."

"We're facing the same counting issue," Luther shot back as he started walking, and naturally, I followed right behind him. "The total number of [Hunters] here generally swings between three to four thousand, depending on various factors like the day of the week or if there's an emergency that needs attention. Since it's a relatively quiet period right now, we're probably looking at around 3800 people."

I only fully grasped the staggering size of this group when we entered the grand hall. We had decided earlier to make our way to the stage at the front of the room. Given the number of people milling about, this was a wise choice. The crowd was a diverse one, filled with people of various power levels, different physical sizes, and ranging ages. Some were engaged in conversation, some appeared to be napping, and a small number had already turned their focus on me. Almost all of those were [S-Rank] hunters.

They're sharp, I thought to myself.

"Want me to get their attention?" Luther asked, tilting his head toward the massive crowd that had gathered. I nodded, and Luther flexed his arms before bringing his hands together in a resounding clap. If any regular civilians had been nearby, their eardrums might have nearly burst from the sound. For those who were here, however, it served as a powerful reminder to quiet down.

The noise level dropped dramatically within a few seconds, a sign of good discipline among those present. All eyes were now on us, on the stage. They were obviously expecting to hear something important. These people had all been called here at the crack of dawn, so I knew they would rather be doing something else with their time.

Too bad for them. They were going to hear me speak.

This should go pretty smoothly, I hoped. Taking the microphone that Luther handed to me, I began speaking in a confident tone.

"You all know who I am," I started, keeping it simple and to the point. "You're well aware of what I'm capable of. Many of you probably saw it firsthand when we launched our assault on the [Demon King]'s castle. You understand that I'm currently at the top."

There wasn't a single objection. Even though I spotted several faces known for their arrogance and quick tempers, no one dared to interrupt. Was this what genuine respect felt like? It had been a long time since I'd felt this level of acknowledgment.

I saw no reason to spoil the moment.

"You're here because you want to contribute," I continued, keeping the momentum going. "The time has come to fulfill that expectation. If you know how to project your Aura into the surrounding atmosphere for an extended period, make your way to the front now."

It took a bit of shifting and some minutes of idle waiting, but eventually, a group of about a hundred people came forward.

A hundred individuals willing to step up. That was a surprisingly large number, especially considering that some of them weren't even [B-Rank].

"Show me what you can do with your abilities," I commanded, and almost immediately, I was hit by a chaotic wave of different energies. At first, it was a bit surprising, but my resistance to low-level energies made sure it didn't really affect me much. I could sense the energies, sure, but that was pretty much all they did to me.

Now, sensing thousands of individual people through their passive energy had been one thing. But having a hundred or so deliberately flare up their [Mana] in front of me was an entirely different experience. It felt like someone had tossed the sun at me, rather than just looking up at the distant stars in the night sky.

And what I saw was, to put it simply, pretty disappointing. Most of these people could release their energy, yeah, but it was aimless. It was kind of like watching a little kid wave a flashlight around, rather than seeing someone who really knew how to use it. The energies were there, alright, but they lacked focus and intent.

That was something I knew I had to fix right away. So, I told them to make the necessary adjustments. I wanted to sense clear mental commands in their energy, commands like calming down, disengaging from combat, or safely leaving the area. These weren't exactly difficult commands, since they were playing with basic instincts, but it was here that people started to struggle.

Within a few quick seconds, the number of people who could really handle it dropped from a hundred down to fifty. Out of those, only thirty could sustain it long enough to be considered useful.

Well, it wasn't as bad as I had initially thought, but it was clear that this was gonna be a long day.

"Alright, those thirty of you, go ahead and divide the remaining people into groups and help them learn this," I ordered. Some looked like they wanted to object, but Luther was quick to silence them. "The more people you can successfully teach, the faster we'll get this whole thing done."

I repeated the instructions over the microphone for everyone else in the hall to hear. Then, I watched as people started to split into smaller groups. In each group, one of the more proficient individuals would take the lead, demonstrating the required technique.

Many attempted to mimic it right on the spot. Equally many failed almost immediately.

"How many of these people do you actually think will manage to learn this?" I asked, keeping an eye on the time as the minutes ticked by. I was also putting on a display of how it should be done—shape, power, and range. For me, it was easy, a piece of cake really. But for some of the red-faced and obviously frustrated [Hunters] standing near the stage, it was proving to be a challenge. "All of them? Maybe just half? Or perhaps none?"

"A good dozen or so seem to have already grasped the basics in that group over there," Luther responded. I glanced in the direction he was pointing at and saw a few individuals projecting Auras of various colors, mostly linked to elemental types. "Those who already have skills in ranged combat are picking it up more easily. As for the overall group, if half of them can figure it out, that would be sufficient."

I wasn't too thrilled with the way he phrased that last part.

"Few people usually are," he added.

27. Crossed Paths

Time went by, with the passing hours being relatively quiet. Some folks decided to give up on the training session, while others were pretty much forced to get back into it. A select few, however, actually managed to unlock the necessary pathways by tapping into their emotions. Then, there were those who were basically treated like human punching bags. They were hit by everyone else's Auras, all so they could get a feel for the different levels of strength. A decent number of [Hunters] did manage to produce Auras full of intent within those first few hours, but the intensity of most was just way too strong for regular people to handle safely.

"Listen, if you keep blasting out Auras this dense in a crowd, you're going to make people's heads explode," I cautioned the nearest [S-Ranker], who was looking a tad too self-satisfied. "And I'm not speaking metaphorically here. Get your act together."

Watching the smug expression on their face dissolve gave me a sort of twisted satisfaction. Maybe life as a teacher wasn't all that bad, you know?

"After a little more time, those of you who can produce a controlled Aura can go rest and grab some food," I announced. "For those who haven't figured it out yet, go get some food but then get your butts back here. You've got one hour."

I'd never seen a group of people clear out of a space so quickly in my life. Only a few stragglers remained behind, some picking up trash while others opted to forgo the break, hoping they might crack the code. Most of these hopefuls were ranked below [A-Rank].

"They're getting the hang of it," I observed, still contemplating how I felt about that last bit. Luther was walking beside me as we made our way to an exterior door, which led to a smaller forested area. The space was big enough to hide the surrounding buildings when you stood in the center but not much more than that. "If we're lucky, we could have these guys ready to be deployed to various cities by the end of the day."

"Perhaps," Luther agreed, glancing up at the pristine blue sky above us. I did the same, feeling a wave of calm wash over me. After spending so many hours cooped up indoors, being outside felt genuinely refreshing. "If you want to stick around here for a bit, I can go fetch food for the both of us."

"Sounds good," I said, venturing deeper into the mini-forest while Luther headed in the direction of the cafeteria.

While this artificial setting couldn't replace the genuine wilderness of the 5th Zone where I'd often spent long days, it was a decent enough substitute. The trees here were real, I could feel it when I touched the bark.

That authentic connection to nature, well, that's something you can't fake.

"You know, I recognize these trees," came a voice, a voice that was definitely not supposed to be there.

Within a fraction of a second, I already had my dagger in my hand and was lunging towards the unexpected intruder. I hadn't sensed their presence until they spoke. As my eyes narrowed, I recognized that all-too-familiar smile.

Loki.

"You don't seem too thrilled to see me," Loki, the god of trickery, remarked. I stayed silent, not giving him the satisfaction of a response. I tried to extend my shadow to catch him off guard, but yet again, the entity was way too fast for me. "Ah, let me correct myself. You look downright unhappy to see me. What have I ever done to you?"

"Nothing yet, but I can't exactly trust a monster disguised as a human to keep it that way," I retorted. I examined Loki carefully, taking in the tailored suit, the pale skin, those piercing green eyes, and that ever-present smirk that seemed to scream he was always one step ahead. Everything about him put me on edge, probably deliberately. "What's your take on that?"

Loki responded in a tone that hovered between amusement and offense. "Impersonating? I have a few things to say about that. First of all, we gods were here long before you humans even showed up. We are the originals; you're the copies. Not the other way around. And yes, I do have a reason for being here."

"And what might that be?" I asked, brushing off the first part of what he'd said. That was a discussion for another time, maybe.

"To have a chat," Loki simply said, and then, in the blink of an eye, he was sitting down on a leather sofa that had just materialized out of nowhere. Before I knew it, I was sitting on one as well. How did he even-- "I'd like to congratulate you on moving up another rung on the ladder of power. It's no small feat for a human as fragile as your kind generally is."

So Loki knew about my recent increase in ranking. I had only shared that information with Liam, Luther, and Sara. No one else was supposed to know. I'd also been suppressing my aura every single second of the day. How he could have found out was beyond me. Could he see that much?

Way too much, apparently.

"I'd say thanks, but we both know I wouldn't mean it," I replied, not hiding my skepticism. On impulse, I summoned a glove infused with fire magic and launched a bolt of scorching flame at Loki. Before the flames could reach him, he and the sofa were gone, reappearing a meter to the side. "Figures."

This wasn't teleportation.

Whether it was due to my recent rise in power, or something else, I actually saw Loki move, if only for the briefest of seconds. I couldn't react fast enough to do anything about it, but the mere fact that I'd seen it indicated some sort of progress on my end.

"If you want to say thanks anyway, I wouldn't hold it against you," Loki said, almost casually. "No? Fine, let's just leave that option on the table for now."

"So, what's the real reason you showed up?" I asked, feeling more and more fed up with this charade. Killing Loki was out of the question, and he didn't seem keen on killing me either. So, what was the point? "Just to annoy me? Your last visit was a declaration about humanity's potential downfall, after all."

"Ah, true, true. I fear I may have set the bar too high with that one," Loki responded, shaking his head as if he was genuinely disappointed. "Honestly, running into you was more or less a coincidence. I had another errand to attend to and bumped into you on my way back. Maybe fate wants us to be best buddies?"

"Yeah, I highly doubt that's gonna happen," I shot back, standing up from the leather sofa, which promptly vanished as my feet touched the ground. "If this is all you've got, then I'm out of here. Goodbye."

"Oh, you're not even going to interrogate me? You catch on too fast," Loki said, appearing beside me in a split second. "Fine, consider this a favor: Be prepared. The grand finale is coming up, and trust me, you won't want to miss it."

I was about to retort with a smart comment, but Loki vanished before my eyes could even catch up to his movements. Man, that guy was seriously fast.

I looked around and realized there were no surveillance cameras in this forested area either. It seems the wealthy folks' aversion to leaving overt evidence had backfired on me again.

"We really need more cameras around here," I muttered to myself. Just then, I sensed Luther approaching me at a quick pace, from several hundred meters away. So, I could detect Luther, but not a deity? "What a flawed system," I added under my breath.

"Is something amiss, Mister Park?" Luther inquired, handing me a warm, wrapped sandwich.

Pure luxury, indeed.

"Our resident trickster made another appearance," I explained, taking a bite out of the sandwich. Luther's expression turned darker, and within moments he was on the phone, coordinating a search with several guards. "Don't bother. He's probably long gone by now."

"We have to make sure," Luther responded, leading me to shrug. If it made them feel more secure, then why not? In the meantime, I savored the food. It wasn't as good as Sara's cooking, but it came close.

After about thirty minutes, the search was called off. Hundreds of guards had combed the area, but found absolutely nothing, no trace of anyone other than me. I knew exactly where Loki had stood, but staring at that spot yielded nothing. It was as if I had been conversing with a phantom.

Considering it was Loki, that was a very real possibility. Wouldn't be the weirdest prank he'd ever pulled, that's for sure.

An hour went by, and the training session picked back up. I wasn't really taking an active part in it anymore. Plenty of folks had managed to conjure their Auras by then and were serving as live examples for the others. My role had shifted to just overseeing the whole thing, making sure no one messed up too badly.

It sounds like an easy job, but let me tell you, it was mentally draining. If I'd actually gotten some sleep last night, maybe it would've been a bit easier. But sleep was a luxury that neither Luther nor I had been afforded.

My eyes twitched a little when I heard the thud of boots hitting the wooden floor close to the stage. The mess of Auras floating around had blinded me to the presence of two very specific ones, ones I should've recognized instantly.

"Sloan Park, the man of the hour," Ulrich announced as he walked up to me, his blond hair shimmering. He enthusiastically shook my hand, and Jade, who was right behind him, did the same. "I heard you were doing some instructing here, but I had to see it to believe it."

"I wouldn't really call it 'teaching,' more like 'observing and making corrections when necessary,'" I clarified. "What brings you two here, anyway? Weren't you supposed to be out guarding the [Rift] in the ocean?"

"Staring at the ocean got pretty monotonous, so we're taking a day or two off on the mainland," Ulrich explained. "Don't worry, we've got people covering for us. If anything happens, we'll know about it within a minute."

Not that I'd been super worried, but it was still comforting to hear that. I noticed Jade's eyes scanning the crowd of trainees below us. With her magical senses, the sea of different Auras must have been sending a confusing mix of signals. Anyone not trained to filter that out could easily get a headache.

"How about we move this outside?" I suggested. Both of them agreed quickly, so I left Luther in charge of the ongoing training and led them to one of the pool areas. "I get that you might not be big fans of water, but it's a good spot to chill."

"It's Ulrich who's got the issue with water," Jade clarified as she dipped her toes into the pool. "I was perfectly happy where we were, but someone can't handle a few minor waves at night."

"The boat was practically tilting over, Jade. Saying 'a few minor waves' is a serious understatement," Ulrich shot back. Jade just laughed, leaned back, and let the water lift her up. The way she manipulated the liquid was so casual, a real testament to her being an [S-Rank Hunter]. "Anyway, it's really good to see you again, Sloan. After all the chaos with the attempted invasion, I thought it'd be a long time before our paths crossed again."

I had to actively hold back a grimace from taking over my face, but it seemed like Ulrich saw through my muted expression anyway. He seemed to understand what was going on in my head.

"Listen, whatever went down back then, you should know that our team really doesn't hold it against you," Ulrich began. Jade was over there on her water chair, keeping her mouth shut for the moment and just playing idly with a conjured water tendril. "We all know you, and we're aware you do your best to help others. Some people might think differently, but we—"

"Okay, got it," I cut him off. Not that I wanted to be rude, but I really didn't feel like listening to the whole speech right now. Sure, it came from a good place, but it wasn't the kind of pep talk I needed at the moment. "I appreciate knowing that not everyone wants me gone. Still, I'm doing my best not to dwell on it."

"Oh, absolutely. I get it," Ulrich quickly reassured me. "There are some topics that just stay sensitive, like Jade's futile attempts to communicate with fish."

"Hey!" Jade piped up.

And with that little exchange, the subject was skillfully sidestepped, letting us all settle down in a shady area. Considering the alternatives, this wasn't such a bad place to hang out. I could still sense the clash of Auras back in the training center. Even though Luther was there to keep an eye on things, having my own 'third eye,' so to speak, pointed that way didn't do any harm.

That extra awareness came in handy about ten minutes later when I noticed Luther starting to move really quickly. Initially, it was just his arms shifting around a bit, but it soon escalated into a full-on sprint directly towards where I was sitting.

My initial confusion turned into a steadfast determination when Luther handed me a phone. And he summed up the situation in just four, chilling words: "The [Rift] is opening."

Atlantis was about to break into our world again. There was no time to waste. We all needed to get moving. Right this second.

28. Trending Techniques

In just about 10 minutes, we were there. Ulrich's group had been yanked out of their respective spots in the hotel to make this rapid response possible. Anyone who was asleep was jolted out of bed within seconds, and those who were eating grabbed their food to bring it along. Anyone outside the immediate area was simply taken while already in motion. I barely allowed for any delay, feeling an intense urgency to get moving as quickly as we could.

"Man, talk about bad luck," Ulrich grumbled, strapping on his gear while he was perched on the back of Timor. The drake was flying through the air at a breakneck speed that would've killed normal people from the acceleration alone. Us [S-Rankers] had no choice but to hang on for dear life while also trying to put on gloves. It wasn't easy, but it was necessary for whatever was about to happen in the next few seconds. "Jade, can you see what's going on down there?"

My own view was obstructed; I couldn't really make out much through the clouds or, wait, no—it was a thick fog forming below us, a fog saturated with [Mana]. Its density was interfering with my senses, making it difficult to figure out what was really happening.

"The water is acting strange," Jade finally answered. Her eyes were closed, and she was taking deep breaths. "I think there's another leviathan. Maybe even more than one. Everything's moving so fast. I sense clashing currents coming from all directions. And—oh God—there are even more of them."

"More of what?" I asked, wanting to get to the point.

"More maelstroms," Jade clarified. "This shouldn't be possible."

That indicated direct manipulation by some external force. I didn't have to spend time pondering which powerful water mage could be behind this.

Poseidon had emerged from the [Rift], leaving the fracture in space-time to enter this world himself. The situation was grim. My only comfort was knowing that we weren't too late.

Yet.

That single word kept echoing in my mind. Acting quickly, I ordered Timor to dive. The drake pulled its wings tight against its body, and we all began plummeting through the thick fog. We couldn't see a thing, couldn't hear anything; the only sensation was the feeling of wet air pushing against our faces.

Then, abruptly, we broke through the fog and the winds began to batter us. It was an all-out assault on our senses—sight, hearing, everything. Below, I could finally see the massive sphere that contained the [Rift], along with the island of Atlantis, which had been breached. Also visible was the circular base near the island, now under attack by giant serpents trying their best to shatter it. Numerous [Hunters] were already down there, fighting desperately against these monstrous creatures, and it didn't look like they were winning.

And worst of all, I could finally sense the God of the Ocean. Standing at the center of the island, surrounded by crumbling golden buildings, was Poseidon himself. His golden trident was glowing, and those piercing blue eyes met mine through the swirling air.

The message was unmistakable. The invitation was clearly out there.

"Your group is in charge of helping the others survive," I ordered, standing up from my spot at the front of Timor. The drake seemed ready to drop off the others and then follow me, but I immediately rejected that idea. The winged creature was tasked with assisting them, while I was set on facing the god without Timor's help. "I'll take on the [Boss] myself."

"Are you sure you can handle it all by yourself?" Ulrich questioned, his voice tinged with worry, which was actually a nice change. "Last time, you barely scraped through."

"I think I've got it," I responded, my eyes meeting theirs. The genuine looks of concern from the group actually made a rare smile appear on my face. "Just focus on doing your best in your own battles, got it?"

"Yes, sir!" Jade was the first to shout, before anyone else even had a chance to think about echoing the sentiment. Her slightly late, improvised salute made me shake my head in mild amusement. Making sure they were committed to staying put, I leaned over the side of the drake and launched myself off. We were directly over the island, and I had a god to confront.

Time to see how this showdown would unfold.

Poseidon kept his eyes on me the entire time I was plummeting, his blue eyes unflinching, unblinking, and utterly relentless. The silent understanding between us couldn't have been clearer.

Today, one of us was not walking away.

"No plans to hurl that trident at me while I'm in mid-air?" I quipped as soon as my boots hit the cracked stone street below. The kilometer-long fall barely registered to me, but the stone underneath me did start to show some stress cracks. "How gentlemanly of you."

"Even if you remain beholden to your master, a foe with your tenacity deserves some respect," Poseidon remarked. I noticed the tightness in the skin on the god's face; although the worst of his injuries had healed, deep tissue scars remained. "You see right through it, don't you?"

"Both of us are carrying the scars from our last fight," I responded with a slight shrug. "Yours are just more visible, but I doubt they hamper you in combat."

For the first time, the god of the seas actually laughed.

"Indeed, they do not," Poseidon agreed, the laughter fading. "But they have imparted a valuable lesson to me. Even those burdened and lacking in wisdom can fight as if they're free. You exemplify that paradox, even though you yourself possess scant wisdom."

"Nice words," I returned, offering a bitter smile. "But, I think I'm a bit wiser now than you give me credit for. I've learned a lot more truths since our last battle. I know what your family endured after being captured by the [Architect]."

Instantly, the mirth disappeared from Poseidon's eyes. A pause, brief but intense enough that even the raging battle in the distance seemed to momentarily freeze. Then, the sea serpents resumed their roars, and the eyes of the god began to flash with newfound fury.

"Don't play innocent," Poseidon practically growled, his teeth clenched tight as he glared at me. "You've slain my kin, donned the hides of my minions, and even killed my own son. And you dare to still label yourself as wise?"

"I've actually saved some of your kin from eternal suffering, I'm wearing gear that I fairly won in combat, and your son didn't take my peace offer," I shot back. "Do I consider myself wise? Nah, not really. But you should at least realize that there were good reasons behind what I've done."

For just a brief moment, I noticed the fiery light inside the god's eyes seemed to flicker, dimming slightly. It was as if he was grappling with the reality of what I said, experiencing a momentary feeling of helplessness, before centuries of pent-up pain and anger took over once more.

"Even if that's true, you're still linked to the one responsible for ruining my homeland," Poseidon said, gripping his trident a little tighter. "But let me ask you this—can you confidently say that you helped my brethren find peace?"

"I felt their spirits moving on, yeah," I answered, giving a solemn nod. "I wasn't able to help all of them, but those I could reach did seem to find some measure of peace."

"A burden has been lifted from me, hearing that," the God of the Ocean admitted, some relief creeping into his voice. "However, you should know that your ability to do such things wasn't part of the [Architect]'s design. Even if you managed to sidestep the barriers that kept my family in torment once, don't think it will be that easy next time. My resolve to break all of this down hasn't wavered."

I understood what he meant. For him to shatter this twisted reality, he would have to sever all connections to the natural world. Everyone who was linked to the [System] would have to be taken down. Only then, in his eyes, could his family truly be saved.

"Is there really no way I can convince you to stop this from happening?" I asked, allowing Shiva to manifest as a dark dagger in my hand. Others yearned to do the same, but the scale-armor I wore was already pulling its weight. That would have to wait until later. "Can't we try working together? You're assuming my success was just a fluke, but what if it wasn't?"

"I regret to say this, mortal, but taking such a risk for the sake of mercy is something I can't afford," Poseidon stated. He lifted his golden trident up towards the heavens, and I could feel the water surrounding the small island begin to shift. The darkening sky above us was an unmistakable sign of what he planned to do next. "I've waited far too long for this day. My path must remain unaltered."

The sun vanished, replaced by a colossal amount of water that was now hovering over our heads. It took on the shape of a face, gazing down at us with an expression that was as emotionless as it was ominous.

29. Explosion of Power

"Alright then, let's do this," I declared. Poseidon let his golden trident touch the ground, and the massive lake of water hanging above us came crashing down. The force was enough to crush me instantly, enough to end my life right then and there in just one go.

But I wasn't going to let that happen. Taking a quick lunge forward, I skillfully dodged a jab from his trident and managed to slice a small cut on the god's arm. However, another swing from his weapon made me pull back to keep some distance between us. By that time, the wall of water was almost reaching the ground, and I had no choice but to start running.

I jumped onto one of the golden buildings nearby, feeling it quiver as its base got hit by the gigantic wave. Just a second later, right after I had already leapt to the next building, the first one was totally consumed by water. Running on foot was out of the question; the wave was just too tall to navigate through without getting hit.

So, wings became my solution. Thanks to the harpies in my army, I had gained the ability to fly. Feathered wings sprouted from my back almost instantly, and I shot up into the sky at the last possible moment. A burst of water shot up after me, quick enough to graze my face, but I was able to dodge the brunt of the attack.

"You can't escape, mortal," Poseidon's voice echoed, but it wasn't from his main body. Instead, the water itself seemed to vibrate and form his voice. Two gigantic watery arms extended toward me, attempting to crush me in their grasp.

It was a worthy attempt, but one I had no intention of letting succeed. Pushing my wings to their limit, regardless of how much [Mana] drained out of my core, I evaded each and every blow. The dodges were getting narrower with each attack, our powers too similar when we were on even ground. But in a battle environment made of water, the odds tilted in favor of the god who could control that very element.

So all I could do was keep dodging, letting my body get more and more strained in the thirty-odd seconds it took for the wall of water to finally descend from its elevated position. Although some water still remained, Poseidon would need to summon another torrent to launch that same sequence of attacks.

But from the tired sigh that escaped him, I sensed he was growing weary.

"Not a bad opening move," I admitted. His attack had probably been intended to finish me off quickly, so he wouldn't be able to use the same method again. Now, neither of us had anywhere to run. The only way out of this was through defeating the other. "Ready to see my first move?"

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Poseidon responded, offering a weary smile. I returned the smile, lifting my hand as nearly fifty demonic fire mages materialized around us.

"Brute force it is, then?" he asked.

"It's the trending strategy," I commented, giving a casual shrug as I leapt into the air. My small army of fifty [S-Ranked] fire mages unleashed their full power, burning through all their allocated reserves in less than five seconds. Every single spell was targeted at the same spot, aimed solely at Poseidon. "Hey, if it works, it can't be called stupid, right?"

Unfortunately, the plan didn't pan out as I'd hoped. A protective sphere of water appeared around the god of the ocean, shielding him from all the fiery harm. The surrounding air was so hot that steam started to form almost immediately, but inside that water shield, Poseidon remained unscathed. He looked tired, sure, but he didn't have any major injuries. Or minor ones, for that matter.

Up until that point, neither of us had really managed to harm the other. Clearly, a new strategy was in order.

"What is this now?" Poseidon questioned as I dismissed my demons, making way for two new figures to enter the scene. These were humanoids, both wielding powers that could potentially pose a real threat to the god in front of us. Powers of sand and death.

"Yes," was all I said, as I moved closer, aiming to land a stab on Poseidon myself. Before my weapon could reach him, however, his trident swung through the air, forcing me to stop my attack midway to make sure my arms didn't end up broken.

But then one of my new summons showed some promise. Set, the Egyptian god of war, attacked Poseidon from the opposite side simultaneously, wielding a staff that brought eternal sand. A loud clang reverberated through the air as the staff and the trident clashed, momentarily locking the two gods in a stalemate. Poseidon looked like he was about to push Set back and launch a counter-attack, but then came the next phase of our strategy.

The atmosphere shifted, and a shower of ultra-sharp sand blew across the area. I knew it was coming, so I dodged. Poseidon, however, lacked that foresight. Deep cuts appeared on his exposed skin, and sand embedded itself in his flesh before he could even conjure up another water sphere to fend it off. By that time, the sand's effects had already waned, and both Set and I had retreated to a safer distance.

"Despicable tricks," Poseidon spat out, focusing his attention solely on me and Set. We both stood there silently, observing the oceanic deity. "Well, you've earned my respect for catching me off guard like that."

"It wasn't really my main goal to surprise you, you know," I said, pretending to be even more worn out as I slumped over just a little bit. It wasn't a difficult act to pull off, considering how much stress this entire situation had already placed on my body. "We had something else in mind."

"Oh?" Poseidon queried. "And what could that be?"

"To distract you," I simply stated.

In an instant, Poseidon's eyes widened as he finally noticed Anubis' existence. The god of the ocean became abruptly aware of the black sand that burst through the ground and reached up to touch him. For a brief moment, I felt grateful that I had never been on the receiving end of such an attack; Poseidon's immediate recoil made it clear just how potent this assault was.

If he had been a weaker enemy, he would've been dead right there, caught in the trap we had set.

But Poseidon was far from weak.

His eyes turned bloodshot, black veins began to sprawl across them, and blood started oozing from his wounds as his blood pressure skyrocketed. Despite all this, the god remained standing. He lifted his trident and slammed it into the ground once more. But this time, instead of summoning a tidal wave from the island's beaches, he called for the island itself to sink back into the ocean from whence it came.

It felt like the entire island, weighing millions of tons, was handed over to gravity's merciless grip. I realized that I was being fully drawn into Poseidon's domain, instead of merely standing at its edge.

"It's only fair," Poseidon declared, reacting to the turn of events. "Now, prepare yourself."

Before I knew what was happening, Poseidon's form became a blur. I instinctively ducked, and it was good that I did. Otherwise, my back would've been skewered by his trident. I attempted a sweeping kick aimed at tripping him, but he side-stepped and avoided the takedown.

Switching gears, I brought my dagger into play, aiming for his legs while Set swooped in from above, targeting his head. Poseidon countered Set with a blast of water, and my own attempt was thwarted by a swift strike from the butt end of his trident. The forceful blow landed on my left shoulder, piercing through my new armor and causing something to snap within.

I twisted my body to avoid the full force of the hit, but the damage had already been done. I had taken the first major blow, and it stung like hell. I almost let a word slip out, but I held my tongue. Time was of the essence, and wasting it on talking was foolish.

Come out, [Shade].

My shadow separated from me, and together, we launched another attack. Ignoring the pain, I slashed through the air, targeting Poseidon's throat. The first attempt was a bust, met with a well-timed kick from Poseidon. However, a clever distraction from my shadow in the form of a low blow from behind allowed me to close the gap once more and strike at Poseidon's chest.

While my blade didn't penetrate too deeply into his flesh, it was enough to make me feel fairly confident about its lethality. Although the weapon hadn't reached the heart and had only grazed beside the ribs, the [Poison] I had coated it with should have been potent enough to do the rest.

Or so I thought.

A burst of water exploded in all directions around Poseidon, forcing us to retreat to avoid getting hit. But the water wasn't just for creating distance; it had another purpose. It came from Poseidon's own wounds and cracks, expelling any foreign substances within him. Sand fell to the ground, fragments were cast out, and, most disappointingly, the poison I had bet on was flushed away in the same moment.

So much for landing a lethal hit.

30. Ending

"Maybe it's time we get serious," Poseidon suggested. Before I even had a moment to ponder what he meant by that, his trident was lifted high into the air again. "Armies of Atlantis, defend your homeland!"

"For Atlantis!" The sound erupted like thunder from all corners, filling the atmosphere. Within the blink of an eye, the shattered streets were swarming with thousands of blue-skinned warriors, all of whom were significantly above [S-Rank]. I wasn't entirely sure if any of the [Hunters] could easily take them down.

Now, thousands of eyes were focused on me, and my only choice was to match their numbers with my own forces.

"Come out and feast," I commanded, making my decision. "All of you, don't hold back. No one stays hidden."

In a situation of this magnitude, playing it safe was no longer an option. My army consisted of just over eight hundred fighters. Holding back their powers at a crucial time like this would be tantamount to signing our own death sentence.

Please, let this work. Let this be a victory.

Predictably, no gods answered my plea for help. No surprise there, as they all wanted my head just as badly as Poseidon did. The only one who could ensure my survival was me, and by all means, I was determined to give it my best shot.

Every wolf, every demon, each shadow of a god, and all sorts of monsters imaginable— I brought them all into this world. They stood ready to fight, to defend their leader: me.

The roaring of both armies reached its peak, filling the air with palpable tension. Poseidon slammed his trident into the ground, signaling the start of this titanic clash. On this island, which was rapidly sinking into the ocean, we'd make our stand.

If luck was on our side, maybe we'd live to see another day.

While the two enormous armies clashed fiercely, I found myself in a one-on-one battle against the god once more. Waves the size of skyscrapers, ultra-fast streams of water, and enough sheer power to level an entire city were hurled at me, one after another. Yet, I withstood it all. Whether through skillful redirection, agile dodging, or using some sly tactics, I survived each assault. I even managed to gain some ground, closing the distance between me and Poseidon whenever I got the chance.

As the minutes ticked by, my attacks started to land more frequently. I was able to cut Poseidon's arms, wound his legs, and at one point, my poisoned blade even made its way into his stomach for a brief moment. Blood flowed copiously from the god, giving me the impression that he might be nearing his limits.

But I was nearing mine as well. I didn't possess the same level of raw power or energy reserves as Poseidon. My army drained my stamina faster and faster, making it impossible for me to heal myself effectively. Every successful blow I landed on Poseidon was reciprocated with equal ferocity. The broken shoulder from earlier was only the beginning; my back was battered and bruised, and my left leg was now adorned with some pretty significant stab wounds. It became evident that the points of Poseidon's tridents weren't just for show, as I had learned the hard way.

I could feel my lungs struggling to pull in air, my mouth filling up with the taste of blood. Spitting it out, I felt even more blood trickle down my face and body. Each cut and gash seemed to pulsate in time with my heartbeat, sending jolts of pain that screamed at me to stop. Every instinct within me was shouting for retreat, urging me to find a safe corner where I could curl up and heal.

But I wouldn't, I couldn't. After all, I wasn't the only one in this condition.

Poseidon himself was barely managing to stand up. Even though he still had his godly, herculean strength and could probably demolish a skyscraper with a single blow, it seemed like just one more cut might make him collapse. Those bloodshot eyes of his told me he knew it as well as I did.

"For what it's worth," Poseidon managed to sputter out between labored breaths, "this has been a good final battle for one of us, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it has," I agreed, blinking away the darkness clouding my left eye. I would have downed a health potion by now if it hadn't shattered into countless pieces during one of the earlier exchanges. Those things were just too fragile. "But now, it's time to bring it to a close."

"...Yes," Poseidon conceded. "It's time."

Letting go of his trident, which he had been using to support himself, Poseidon assumed a battle-ready stance. I also stopped hunching over, lowering my center of gravity and tensing my muscles just the right amount. A few seconds passed as I steadied my breath, and then, I made my move, springing forward with all the energy I could muster.

As if responding to my movements, the ground cracked open instantly, sending up geysers of water shooting towards me. I dodged, circling around Poseidon while his view was temporarily obstructed.

That turned out to be a mistake. Taking advantage of my momentary blindness, Poseidon leapt into the air. I had to jump and roll swiftly to evade the downward strike. The ground quaked as his trident struck it, shaking even more when he yanked the weapon free.

"A dirty trick," I muttered, regaining my footing as Poseidon closed the distance between us. We both wore knowing smiles. "Silence."

The [Order] made Poseidon flinch. The aura that came with the word sowed a seed of confusion in his mind. Seizing the moment, I kicked up dust to obscure my own movements and lunged, aiming for the kill.

Despite his disoriented state, Poseidon saw it coming. His trident was poised to meet me, aimed at my chest, while my dagger sought the same target on him.

A rational person would have pulled back, tried again. It was a crazy gamble, thinking I could survive such a direct blow.

But I was no rational person; I was an absolute fool.

Poseidon's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he gasped for air. My dagger found its mark, piercing through his ribs, puncturing a lung, and finally plunging into his heart. The [Poison] followed swiftly, pumping into his system without hesitation. At this point, whatever tricks Poseidon had up his sleeve didn't matter. He had been struck down; the God of the Oceans was no more.

"Well played," the deity murmured weakly as he collapsed to the ground, taking his last few breaths before going still forever. Notifications from the [System] started to appear, but I waved them away. This was neither the time nor the place for that.

Meanwhile, I let the golden trident stay where it was, sticking out from my body. Thanks to the tough leviathan scales, the three prongs hadn't gone in too deeply, but I was well aware that taking deep breaths right now would be a bad idea.

"Where's Jade when you really need her?" I mumbled to myself, falling back onto the ground as I yanked the weapon out. What about my backup potions? My shadow storage couldn't be empty of those, right? "Let's take a quick look."

With my mind running on fumes, I mentally sifted through the items in my own shadow. Among riches, gold, various weapons, and random armor pieces, I finally found what I was desperately looking for. Ah, there it was—a small vial filled with swirling red liquid. I pulled it out, broke off the top, and chugged the contents all in one go. Some glass shards might have followed the potion down my throat, but at that moment, I really couldn't care less.

The relief was just too overwhelming.

Even though I was teetering on the edge of death, just one more hit away from succumbing to my injuries, I knew deep down that I had won. A few meters away lay Poseidon's lifeless body, never to rise again. His spirit had moved on, leaving me with the responsibility of liberating my people.

"I'll get it done," I quietly assured, more for myself than anyone else. I knew the fallen god couldn't hear me, but saying it out loud provided some comfort. "I'll see it through to the end."

"How touching," a nasal voice tinged with a slight accent and barely restrained laughter broke through the silence.

My eyes narrowed instantly.

"Loki," I said, forcing myself to stand up despite the waves of pain that shot through my body. "What are you doing here?"

The god of trickery let out a chuckle, looking down at Poseidon's corpse and lightly tapping it with his foot. Unsurprisingly, there was no reaction, which seemed to amuse him all the same.

"Do you think you'd believe me if I said I was just passing through?" Loki quipped. I gave him no response. Normally, killing him was an impossible task. Given my current condition, trying would be downright suicidal. "Guess that excuse won't work twice. What a shame."

In a swift motion, Loki bent down, grabbed the golden trident, and stood back up. As he toyed with the weapon, I could feel the island trembling, the ocean around us stirring.

Was that trident really the source of Poseidon's power? If so...

"Put that down," I ordered. Loki paused, a mock look of confusion appearing on his face. "That doesn't belong to you."

"True, it doesn't," Loki conceded with a grin. "But who's going to stop me?"

Ignoring my lingering injuries, I lunged forward. My blade almost grazed his throat, but he vanished in a puff of smoke before it could connect.

"Maybe rethink your approach for next time, Sloan," Loki advised, his laughter trailing off as he briskly walked away. "See you soon!"

In a last-ditch effort, I threw my dagger in his direction, summoning Shiva to manifest in her full form and snap at where Loki had been. Her fangs found only empty air, although I could still hear the Norse god's chuckling for a few more moments.

Though I had emerged victorious in one battle, something much worse had unfolded in its wake. I had just handed an extremely powerful enemy an additional god's strength. I knew I had to rectify this, and fast.

Afterword

While you wait for the next book, check out one of these series.

1. 'Duty Beyond the Dungeon - The Hunter Paladin"

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